What are the signs and symptoms of strep throat?
Throat infection with strep bacteria can cause a variety of symptoms associated with inflammation of the throat and its nearby structures. Symptoms usually begin within a few days (1-4 days) after contracting the infection (incubation period). With strep throat infection, the throat can become red and swollen. White patches may be visible on the back of the throat and the tonsils, suggesting the presence of pus. The presence of fever, swollen lymph nodes on the sides of the neck, and white patches on the tonsils along with the absence of cough raise the suspicion for strep pharyngitis. Not all of these signs need to be present with strep tonsillopharyngitis. On the other hand, their presence is not specific only to strep throat. Typical signs of strep throat infection are: • fever; • swollen, tender lymph nodes on the sides of the neck (cervical lymphadenopathy); • white patches seen on the tonsils and throat (tonsillar exudates). Some other more non-specific signs and symptoms of stre
