Do I have Tonsillitis or Strep Throat? I went to the doctor but something is off... please help:(?

Most cases of pharyngitis (sore throat) are viral in nature and will run their course. Many of them mimic strep in appearance (i.e. producing the white exudate patches) and producing a severe sore throat. Tonsillitis and pharyngitis run hand in hand and are only differentiated because one area can be involved without the other but usually both are involved. Tonsillitis is simply inflammation of the tonsil(s) (just as pharyngitis is a inflammation of the throat) and is not a disease in itself, merely a condition or symptom, if you will. In each case one must ask the next question...what is the underlying cause? Again, most cases of sore throat are viral and antibiotics have no effect. Time is the only cure. Many clinicians will treat based on what they have been seeing in recent days (i.e. seeing lots of positive strep swabs and you have the same presentation, then simply treat for strep). Treating viral pharyngitis with antibiotics will not harm you but it will not help either. As with pharyngitis, tonsillitis can be viral or bacterial. On the other hand, tonsils are notorious for harboring strep and causing repeat episodes of strep pharyngitis, which is why tonsillitis is aptly linked to strep throat. Bottom line, Azithromycin is very effective against strep, so if you completed a course of that antibiotic and are no better, than you likely have viral pharyngitis/tonsillitis. If this is the case it will resolve on its own within 7 to 10 day from onset. If it persists beyond that or you develop other symptoms such as numerous enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, it may be mononucleosis (a virus that does not follow the 10 day rule), so follow up with you doctor if not resolved in 7 - 10 days.