what does strep throat look like

Strep throat often looks like a red, swollen throat and tonsils , sometimes with white patches, streaks of pus, or tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth. A rash can also happen in some cases.

Quick Scoop

Common visible signs include:

• Red, inflamed tonsils.
• White spots or streaks on the tonsils or back of the throat.
• Tiny red dots on the palate.
• Swollen, tender lymph nodes in the neck.

Important Note

Strep throat can look a lot like other sore throats, so appearance alone is not enough to diagnose it. A clinician usually needs a test to confirm strep.

When to get checked

Get medical care sooner if you have:

• Fever.
• Trouble swallowing.
• Severe throat pain.
• A rash.
• Symptoms that come on quickly, especially without cough or congestion.

If you want, I can also show you how strep throat differs from a normal sore throat in a simple side-by-side format.