Strep Throat

Overview

Strep throat (group A streptococcal pharyngitis) presents with sudden sore throat, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and tonsillar exudate — usually without cough. The CENTOR or McIsaac score helps decide who to test. Clindle orders a rapid strep test or throat culture at a lab near you when symptoms fit, and prescribes penicillin VK or amoxicillin (or azithromycin for penicillin allergy) for confirmed cases. Untreated strep can cause rheumatic fever — that's why we treat it. Drooling, severe one-sided pain, or trouble breathing means in-person evaluation.