You can't definitively tell if a sore throat is viral or bacterial (strep) just by symptoms, though strep often lacks cough/runny nose but has white spots/pus on tonsils, fever, and tiny red spots (petechiae) on the roof of the mouth, while viral often includes cough, runny nose, and pink eye; a doctor must perform a rapid strep test (swab) or throat culture to confirm bacterial strep throat because only bacterial strep requires antibiotics.
You may very well also see white patches or streaks of pus there. Fever is also common to both, but the fever associated with bacteria tends to be higher and more severe than with a viral infection. Some people with a strep throat infection will also notice tiny red spots, called petechiae, on the roof of the mouth.
Symptoms of strep throat occur quickly
“You can also have headaches, and bellyaches or abdominal pain with it as well,” Dr. Patel said. “But at the back of your throat where your tonsils are, you can notice redness. Sometimes you can have white patches of exudates, which is kind of like pus or streaks of that as well.”
For example, an abscess may form during or shortly after strep throat. In this case, a person may notice that their symptoms do not get better, get worse, or recur. New symptoms like swelling in the neck or face, trouble swallowing even saliva, or difficulty opening the mouth may also develop.
Rheumatic Fever
It can develop if strep isn't properly treated early on and can cause nosebleeds, abdominal pain, heart problems, swelling, and twitching.
Call your doctor if you or your child has any of these signs and symptoms:
Symptoms can be many and can include:
Sore throat that started very quickly and may look red. Swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck. Tiny, red spots on the roof of the mouth, called petechiae. White patches or streaks of pus on the tonsils.
Centor criteria include fever ≥ 38 °C, absence of cough, swollen anterior cervical lymph nodes and tonsillar exudates or swelling. One point is added for each criterion. The Centor scores might range from 0 to 4 (10).
With strep throat, your tonsils become very inflamed. This inflammation typically affects the surrounding area of your throat as well, which causes a sore throat (pharyngitis).
Strep throat causes the body to initiate an immune response against the infection. Certain patients produce antibodies, called auto-antibodies, that also attack the individual's healthy brain cells. Previously, scientists did not have a strong understanding of how these autoantibodies entered the brain.
The combination of fever, sore throat and headache could be due to: Influenza (the flu).
Seeing white or pale yellow spots on the sides or back of your throat can be a little scary. But they're usually caused by an infection, such as strep throat, oral thrush, or mononucleosis. If you notice white spots on your throat, go get checked out by your doctor.
Bacterial infections may be the result of "secondary infection" (meaning that the virus initiated the process but a bacteria followed) when the: Symptoms persist longer than the expected 10-14 days a virus tends to last. Fever is higher than one might typically expect from a virus.
a swab test to see if bacteria are causing your tonsillitis (a cotton bud is used to wipe the back of your throat) a blood test for glandular fever if symptoms are severe or will not go away.
Swollen lymph nodes with strep throat are common and usually improve within 1 to 2 weeks after starting treatment.
Stony-hard nodes are typically a sign of cancer, usually metastatic. Very firm, rubbery nodes suggest lymphoma. Softer nodes are the result of infections or inflammatory conditions.
They may be mild or severe. Common symptoms include: Fever that may begin suddenly and is often the highest on the second day. Chills.
Go to the emergency room (ER) if your sore throat causes any difficulty swallowing or breathing. This situation can be life-threatening and may suggest you have a serious infection, major swelling, or an allergic reaction that needs immediate care.
Symptoms of sepsis
Fast, shallow breathing. Sweating for no clear reason. Feeling lightheaded. Shivering.
Yes, strep throat can often resolve on its own, as the body fights off the Streptococcus bacteria, but it's generally not recommended to skip antibiotics because untreated strep carries serious risks like rheumatic fever (causing heart damage), kidney inflammation, and abscesses, and antibiotics quickly relieve symptoms and stop spreading the highly contagious infection. While symptoms may improve in a few days without treatment, the bacteria can linger, causing complications and making you contagious for longer (up to three weeks), whereas antibiotics clear the infection within about 24 hours.
Some common ones are rhinovirus (common cold), flu, adenovirus, and coronaviruses, like COVID-19. These typically lead to redness and rawness in the back of the throat. One virus that really mimics strep throat is the Epstein-Barr virus, the virus that causes mono.
Once a person with strep throat has been taking antibiotics for 24 hours and has no fever, they can return to work, school or daycare and not worry about infecting others.
There are additional risks to letting a strep infection go untreated. Bacterial infections that resist the body's own immune response are likely to spread to other areas. Other possible complications of an untreated strep infection include: Infection spreading to the ears, tonsils, sinuses or lymph nodes.