We are currently seeing quite a bit of strep throat. If you or your child has a fever, sore throat, headache, or stomachache without any other viral symptoms like congestion or cough, it may be strep throat. Bacteria, called Group A strep, cause this type of sore throat. To diagnose strep throat, your physician will require a swab of you or your child's throat, and antibiotics will be needed if the strep test is positive.