My throat isn't very red, but there are spots on the back of my throat-- they aren't really red or white. They just look like little bumps. My throat feels swollen-- making it hard and painful to swallow. My temperature is 98.7 and everything else about me is fine. -- Just back pains from leaning down and drawing all day. If you doubt its strep throat-- what else could this be? I took some liquid soar throat medication-- it helped for only 30 minutes. I've been drinking tea, but after a while the pain just comes back.