If less than 3 of 4 of these signs are positive, then wait for your
strep test or throat culture to show a bacterial
infection before taking antibiotics.
These are general guidelines, meant to be taken in the whole context of your health history by your doctor. Another helpful reference includes the American College of Physicians, Annals of Internal Medicine, 20 March 2001, Volume 134, Number 6.
http://www.annals.