How do i know if i have strep throat?

Look at the picture: Often strepthroat presents as a bad sorethroat, fever, maybe some headaches/achiness, and a nasty looking throat as pictured here. So, if u have these symptoms and your throat is something like this one, likely u have it. Other conditions can do same, so best is to test/prove it by your doc.--simple test in office takes 5min. Good luck.

Strep throat: There is a rapid test for strep pharyngitis that is availalbe - takes only 10 minutes. Go see your doctor in the morning but if you need to be diagnosed today, go to an urgent care center.

There is one way..: ..And that is for your doctor to perform a strep test. No one can tell who has strep and who does not by looking at it. It can hurt, it can be red, there can be pus, fever, swollen glands, and a variety of other symptoms, all with either strep or with viruses. The only way to tell is with a strep test.

Criteria: There are four key criteria that your doctor will use to diagnose: fever, adenopathy (swollen glands), absence of cough, and exudates on the back of your throat. If you have multiple combinations of these, go see your doctor for verification and treatment. Good luck!

Two issues: Tonsillitis is a nonspecific term designating the tonsils as inflamed ; may occur with many germs including strep. Strep throat indicates a specific agent streptococcus group a which is easily confirmed with a quick test or culture. While viral tonsillitis requires no abx ; will self heal, strep needs rx to prevent complications ; prevent spread within the community.