Symptoms often appear suddenly. The severity of strep throat can vary from person-to-person. Some people experience mild symptoms like a sore throat, whereas other people have more severe symptoms including fever and difficulty swallowing. The common symptoms of strep throat include: a sudden fever, especially if it’s 101˚F or higher a sore, red throat with white patches a headache chills swollen lymph nodes in the neck Trouble swallowing Nausea Vomiting a loss of appetite and a general feeling of illness (malaise). The symptoms of strep throat typically develop within five days of exposure to the bacteria. Not all sore throats are a result of a strep infection. Other illnesses can cause a sore throat, too. This includes: the common cold a sinus infection postnasal drip acid reflux Sore throats caused by other medical conditions usually improve on their own with or without treatment in a few days. Call your doctor if you experience: a sore throat that lasts longer than two days a sore throat with white patches dark, red splotches or spots on the tonsils or the top of the mouth a sore throat with a fine, sandpaper-like pink rash on the skin difficulty breathing difficulty swallowing
