5. The nose is Not Runny
If you are suffering from the flu or a cold, you are going to notice any symptoms that are focused on the sinuses as well. For example, a person who has a cold or the flu may also have watery eyes, a runny nose, or chest congestion. All of these symptoms may cause the throat to become irritated and sore.
When strep throat is the cause of a sore throat the symptoms are typically focused on the throat. This means that the other symptoms such as a runny nose or chest congestion are not as common. A person suffering from strep throat may have a bit of mucus in the throat or a bit of congestion, but strep throat typically does not affect the nasal cavity. This means that if you have a very sore throat and your nose is not running or congested, it is likely strep throat that is the cause.