Upper respiratory tract infections Quiz: Ace Your Exams

A 20-year-old man presents to the urgent care for evaluation of fever, sore throat, and painful swallowing for 3 days. The symptoms started with a mild sore throat that has progressively gotten worse. He denies coughing and nasal congestion. Temperature was 38.3°C (100.9°F) at home. He has been taking acetaminophen twice daily and doing salt-water gargles with minimal relief. He does not have any known medical history. He is a college student currently living in a dormitory and one of his roommates was recently sick with a fever and sore throat. Temperature is 38.7°C (101.6°F), pulse is 102/minute, respiratory rate is 12/minute, blood pressure is 116/72 mmHg, and oxygen saturation is 98% on room air. On physical examination, he appears comfortable and is not in acute distress. Oropharyngeal examination reveals the findings seen below. Lymph node examination reveals tender cervical lymphadenopathy bilaterally. Cardiac examination is unremarkable and lungs are clear to auscultation bilaterally. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?
 
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