If you have a sore throat that seems to only be getting worse with time instead of better, and you do not seem to be having any symptoms of a cold such as a cough, you may start to suspect that you may have strep throat. If so, look for the following tell-tale signs that your sore throat may indeed be caused by the bacteria streptococci. 

1.  Neck Is Swollen and Painful to the Touch

One symptom that almost always presents itself when you have strep throat is when your neck feels swollen and painful to the touch. Even the slightest amount of pressure can cause you discomfort.

Right under your jawline and on either side of your windpipe there are lymph nodes that are part of your immune system. Whenever you have an infection these nodes go into overtime to produce white blood cells and filter out the infection present in your lymph and bloodstream.

Because of its close proximity to these lymph nodes, strep throat will cause them to become overly inflamed and engorged. You may find it difficult to swallow even liquids as the nodes become more swollen as the bacterial infection progresses.

2.  Red Striations and White Patches on the Back of Your Throat

Another sign that you more than likely have strep throat is the presence of red striations and white batches on the tissue located at the back of your throat. The striations are areas of inflammation caused by the bacteria's growth, and the white patches are the accumulation of bacteria, their waste products, and white blood cells that are trying to fight off the infection.

To verify whether or not you have these signs, either look in the mirror and shine a flashlight into your mouth or have someone else do it for you if you cannot see. If you have strep throat, these striations and patches will not be difficult to visualize if they are present.

If you suspect that you have strep throat you need to seek medical treatment as soon as possible, as it will not go away with an antibiotic and will only make you sicker in the days ahead. If you cannot get in to see your doctor in a timely manner consider visiting a walk-in clinic that offers urgent care services so that they may determine whether or not your symptoms are caused by strep throat and begin antibiotic treatment right away.