Is my sore throat strep?

Is my sore throat strep throat?  Odds are fairly high if the your throat looks like the picture, complete with pus on the tonsils.  The dilemma is when the throat is red and sore without exudate (“white spots”).  Strep throat is usually not accompanied by a runny nose and cough.  Fever, headache and swollen neck glands, however, are common with this bacterial infection.  Elementary aged children have the highest rate of strep throat, and the infection is rare in children under 2.  If the diagnosis is in doubt, it is important to confirm it with a strep swab and to start antibiotics, because undiagnosed and untreated strep throat can lead in some cases to kidney and heart damage.  See us promptly for any suspicious sore throat, or one that last longer than 10 days to 2 weeks…RRS