Which infection is characterized by a sore throat and typically treated with antibiotics?

Strep throat is the correct answer because it is a bacterial infection caused by Group A Streptococcus that primarily results in a sore throat. This infection often is accompanied by symptoms such as fever, swollen lymph nodes, and white patches on the tonsils. The specific characteristic of strep throat that differentiates it from viral infections, such as the flu or a sinus infection, is that it is treatable with antibiotics. Treating strep throat with antibiotics can help reduce the duration of symptoms, prevent complications like rheumatic fever, and limit the spread of the infection to others.

In contrast, conditions like the flu, asthma, and sinus infections do not require antibiotics, as the flu is caused by a virus, and asthma is a chronic respiratory condition rather than an infection. Sinus infections can be viral or bacterial, but many cases do not require antibiotic treatment especially if they are viral. Thus, the nature of strep throat being a bacterial infection that responds to antibiotic treatment solidifies its position as the correct answer.