Is this strep throat or pharyngitis?

Is this strep throat or pharyngitis? I quit smoking but smoked about 4 last week with a friend out in the cold and I didn’t have a jacket. I also kissed someone who was coughing the day before (stupid I know). I ended up feeling sick on Saturday with a headache, a little nausea and a temp of 99. What do you think it could be? Helppp.

Age: 25
Male
Medications: None

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Dr. Deepak Patel

Hello. Strep would make you feel really, really bad. Much worse than if you just had a cold. Do you have a sore throat? Do you have a cough? Runny nose? Are your lymph nodes in neck enlarged? A strep often is associated with white pus on tonsils. So I think you have a 60% chance it may be a strep throat. A throat culture is needed using a Rapid Strep Test available at a clinic or your Doctor’s office. Regards

Dr.Honey Arora
6:44 am

Hi. Thanks for the query.. Your symptoms can be due to initial phase of Strep throat as the view of your throat does not show any typical features of strep throat that is severe redness, white pustules and red spots.. However it can become progressively worse.. You should consult an Emergency room and get yourself checked and a throat swab culture can help in confirmation of the exact nature of infection that it is bacterial or viral.. If it is confirmed to be bacterial infection then you would need antibiotics like Azithromycin.. For now you can start doing warm saline… Read more »

Dr. Deepak Patel

If you still have fever, yes, you are fighting an infection. It may just be the flu. If fever persists more than 7 days you need to consult. If fever rises above 102 – 103 you need to consult. Although there is some redness and swelling in your throat, there is nothing major that I see. There is no positive sign of strep at this time.