My 12 year old daughter has been complaining of a sore throat. when i looked at it today there were white bumps. what could this be?

I know a number...: ...Of infections that can look like "white bumps": strep throat, mono, adenovirus, coxsackie. Your doctor will have a better idea after an examination.

Treatable vs not: There is no way to look at a throat & know whether it deserves medication or not. There is overlap in the symptoms of strep/mono and other viruses. Untreated strep can eventually trigger rheumatic fever. Needs an exam and strep quick test.