Most sore throats aren't strep. But because strep bacteria can in rare cases cause rheumatic fever, people often feel like they should get tested for possible strep infection. It might be possible to ...

“My sore throats, you know, are always worse than anybody’s.” So declares Mary to Anne in “Persuasion,” Jane Austen’s 1817 book. Most of us can relate to this feeling. There is no such thing as “just ...

Rapid strep test: A swab will be taken from the back of the throat. Results are available in minutes and may quickly confirm strep bacteria. Throat culture: If the rapid test is negative but symptoms ...