How do i know if i have viral pharyngitis?

Its most common: Most cases of pharyngitis are caused by various viruses such as rhinovirus. If you have exudate on your tonsils or pharynx, if you have fever, if you have tender swollen lymph nodes you should have a rapid strep test to rule out group a streptococcus infection. If not you probably have viral pharyngitis and it will resolve spontaneously.

Other symptoms: Most cases in adults are viral. If you also have a runny nose and/or a cough, that is viral. If it's only a pharyngitis, there is a very small chance that it's strep and more rarely other bacteria.