Although physicians usually diagnose strep throat with a simple lab test, some healthcare professionals resort to a clinical diagnosis if they think that the patient’s symptoms are extremely suggestive of the condition. Read on to learn about strep’s common symptoms, diagnosis, and throat culture.

Common Signs and Symptoms

Most treatment guidelines recommend that a medical professional confirms strep throat with a proper laboratory test and not just from the signs or symptoms. However, your doctor can start the treatment if you have the following symptoms, even before you have the throat culture results in your hand:

• Yellow or white spots on your tonsils or throat
• A temperature of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or more
• Swelling and redness of your tonsil or throat
• Tender or swollen lymph nodes in your neck
• Any of the above along with the absence of viral infection symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, or a runny nose

Strep Test

Go for a rapid strep test to figure out whether there is any presence of bacteria in the throat signaling a strep throat diagnosis. A professional in one of our wellness clinics will take a cotton swab to the back of your throat to collect cells for the test. Reputed healthcare centers will provide you with test results within an hour or so. The presence of streptococcal bacteria confirms that you have strep throat.

Throat Culture

This test also examines the cells from the back of a patient’s throat. These cells are collected using a cotton swab and put in a container with substances that promote bacteria growth. A positive throat culture means there is a growth of bacteria.

If you indeed have Strep throat, we recommend that you take some precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the infection. Wash your hands frequently, use tissues instead of handkerchiefs, and cover your mouth while coughing or sneezing. If you feel that you have strep throat, visit one of the Florida Wellness clinics for a thorough lab test now.