Sore Throat? Find Out If It's Strep in About Five Minutes.

Strep Throat Symptoms, and When to Come In

Unlike a typical cold that develops gradually, strep throat symptoms tend to come on quickly and cause more severe throat pain. Recognizing the distinct signs of strep helps you determine whether it's time to walk in for a rapid strep test.

Symptoms We See

• Sore throat that starts suddenly and hurts to swallow
• Fever
• Red, swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks
• Tender, swollen glands in the neck
• Tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth
• Headache
• In children: stomachache or general discomfort

When to Come In

A cough, a runny nose, and a hoarse voice usually point away from strep and toward a virus. That does not mean you shouldn't come in; only testing can confirm what illness you're dealing with. Come into your nearest AFC clinic if:

• Your sore throat is severe
• Throat pain came on suddenly with a fever
• Symptoms have lasted more than two or three days without improvement

Come in sooner if someone in your household has already been diagnosed with strep, or if your child has a sore throat and a fever without a cough.

How We Diagnose and Treat Strep

Getting evaluated for strep throat is fast and straightforward; the entire process usually takes just a single visit and one gentle throat swab.

1. Look and Listen

   A provider examines your throat and neck and asks how it started.

2. Rapid Strep Swab

   A quick throat swab sample is collected, with results back in about five minutes.

3. What the Result Means

   If your result is positive, you'll leave with an antibiotic prescription. If it comes back negative, your provider will talk you through your diagnosis and treatment options.

4. Going Home

   Your provider will explain how to ease the symptoms, when you can go back to school or work, and what signs mean you should come back for re-evaluation.

On-Site Strep Testing

A sore throat with a fever can be strep, flu, or COVID, and early on, they often look alike. We can test for more than one in the same visit to save time and get you back to feeling better faster.

• Strep (about 5 min)
• Flu (about 15 min)
• COVID-19 (about 15 min)
• Mono (varies by clinic)

See all Lab & Diagnostic Testing →

Is It Strep or Just a Sore Throat?

Most sore throats are viral. A few things point toward strep, but none of them settle it on their own.

Telling Them Apart

Do You Need Antibiotics for Strep?

Only if the strep test is positive. Strep throat is bacterial, so antibiotics work and they matter: they shorten the illness, make you non-contagious faster, and lower the risk of the complications strep can cause if it's left untreated.

If the test is negative, antibiotics won't help because the cause is almost certainly viral. That's not a disappointing result; it's a useful one. You'll leave knowing what will actually make you feel better instead of taking something that won't.

When Can You Go Back to School or Work?

Once you've been on antibiotics for a full 24 hours and your fever has gone, you're generally no longer contagious and can go back to work or school. Finish the whole course even after you feel better. Stopping early is the main reason strep comes back.

Cost and Insurance

We bill most insurance. A visit for a sore throat is billed as an office visit, so what you pay depends on your plan.

If you're paying for yourself, a visit at this clinic starts at $190.

Strep Throat Testing Near Worcester

AFC Urgent Care Worcester is located at 117 Stafford St, proudly serving Worcester, MA and surrounding areas.

Related Conditions & Nearby AFC Locations

• Cold, Sinus & Respiratory

• Flu Treatment & Testing

• Pediatric & Children's Care

• Lab & Diagnostic Testing

• COVID-19 Services

Nearby AFC Locations