What does strep throat tongue look like

The Mayo Clinic advises that take your child to see a doctor if your child has a sore throat along with:

  • A fever of 102 F or higher
  • Swollen or tender glands in the neck
  • A red rash

Scarlet fever is usually treated with a round of antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. While it's easily cured with antibiotics, it can have serious long-term effects if left untreated. It can spread to the tonsils, lungs, skin, kidneys, blood, and middle ear. Rarely, untreated scarlet fever can lead to rheumatic fever.

It's normal to feel concerned if you suddenly see a rash on your child's tongue. But now that you know what to look out for, you should feel confident about seeing a doctor, so your child feels better as soon as possible!

CDC is looking into an increase in invasive group A strep (iGAS) infections among children in the United States. iGAS infections include necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.

A sore throat can leave you feeling run down, hoarse, and unable to eat or speak normally. Luckily, most sore throats are caused by viruses and go away on their own.

On the other hand, strep throat is caused by bacteria and requires antibiotic treatment. At Physicians Medical Urgent Care in San Jose, California, Dr. Sveltlana Burkhead and Dr. Ines Munoz De Laborde are experts in diagnosing sore throats and strep infections.

If you see any of the 5 following signs, it might be time to come to our offices for a quick in-office test. 

1. Sore throat without a runny nose, hoarseness, cough, or pink eye

Viral infections are usually behind most sore throats. Because viruses often attack multiple areas of the respiratory system, they often cause other cold and flu-like symptoms as well. 

If you have a sore throat in addition to a runny nose, hoarseness, cough, or pink eye, it’s likely to be a viral infection. We may prescribe you some medicines to help with the symptoms but viral infections usually resolve on their own with a bit of rest. 

On the other hand, if you have a sore throat without any of the above symptoms, it might be strep throat caused by the group A streptococci bacteria. 

2. Swollen lymph nodes in the neck

Your lymph nodes work to filter the lymphatic system which is involved in immune responses to infection. That's because your lymph nodes often get swollen and tender in response to infection. 

While there are multiple lymph nodes located throughout your body, lymph nodes usually swell up in response to local infections nearby. Swollen lymph nodes in your neck often suggest a throat infection like strep throat. 

3. Red, swollen tonsils often with white patches or streaks

Strep bacteria often attacks the tonsils as well as the throat, causing streaks or patches of pus to develop. While viral infections can sometimes cause tonsil swelling (tonsillitis), they are unlikely to cause the white streaks and patches associated with strep throat. 

4. Red spots on the roof of the mouth 

Tiny red bumps on the roof of your mouth care called petechiae and are a common symptom of a strep throat infection. These bumps are caused by small capillaries in the roof of your mouth leaking and are often caused by serious infections.

5. High fever or rash

Low fevers (less than 101℉) are sometimes associated with viral sore throats, but high fevers and rashes are almost always signs of strep infections. Left untreated, these high fevers can lead to a condition called rheumatic fever which can cause long-term damage to your body.  

Similarly, if you notice a sudden fine pink rash or a bright red throat, it might be a cause of another strep complication called scarlet fever. While scarlet fever can usually be easily treated with antibiotics, it’s important to see us immediately if you notice any of these signs. 

It’s easy to confuse viral sore throats with strep throats, but they require different treatments. If you are experiencing the above symptoms, we can confirm your strep diagnosis with a simple swab and send you home with antibiotics to clear up the infection. 

If you think you might have strep throat, call the Physicians Medical Urgent Care team at 888-265-2120 or book an appointment online to get your throat diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.

Besides a sore throat that starts quickly, you can have pain when you swallow, a fever, red and swollen tonsils that sometimes have white patches or streaks of pus, red spots on the roof of your mouth, and swollen lymph nodes in the front of the neck.

It's likely not strep if you have a cough, runny nose, hoarseness, or conjunctivitis (pinkeye).

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  7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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SOURCES:

American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery: "Sore Throats."

Bradley University: "A 'superbug' approach to antibiotics."

CDC: "Sore Throat," "Symptom Relief."

Cleveland Clinic: ““Group A Streptococcal Infections.”

HealthyChildren.org: "When a Sore Throat is a More Serious Infection."

Mayo Clinic: “Swollen lymph nodes.”

National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health: "Eating Problems and Ways to Manage Them."

National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health: "Strep Throat."

New Health Advisor: “White Spots on Throat”

Rutgers Health Services: "Cold & Flu."

University of Michigan: "Infectious Mononucleosis."

Wisconsin Department of Health Services: "Streptococcal Pharyngitis."

Does strep throat affect your tongue?

White patches or streaks of pus on the tonsils, back of the throat, and tongue. Tiny, red spots on the roof of the mouth.

What are 3 symptoms of strep throat?

Sore throat that can start very quickly. Pain when swallowing. Fever. Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus.

What are 4 symptoms of strep throat?

Signs and symptoms of strep throat can include:.
Throat pain that usually comes on quickly..
Painful swallowing..
Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus..
Tiny red spots on the area at the back of the roof of the mouth (soft or hard palate).
Swollen, tender lymph nodes in your neck..
Fever..

How do you visually know if you have strep throat?

The visual signs of strep throat The first typically involves red spots that develop at the back of your throat. You may also notice white bumps, which are pus-filled sacs, or white strings of pus around the back of your throat. The presence of pus is a byproduct of your body's attempt to fight the infection.