Tonsil Troubles: Seeking Advice
Age: 24 Gender: Male Height: 6’2" Weight: 200 lbs Ethnicity: Caucasian Duration of symptoms: Approximately one month Location: California Preexisting health conditions: None Current medications: Clindamycin Greetings, everyone. I've been experiencing some serious issues with my tonsils lately, and I’d like to share my journey. Initially, I tested positive for strep throat and was prescribed a ten-day course of penicillin. By the end of the treatment, I felt much better. However, just two days later, I relapsed with a fever and all my prior symptoms returned. This prompted a five-day course of Zithromax (Z-Pak). Shortly after completing the Z-Pak, I noticed a slight soreness in my throat, leading me to begin taking clindamycin. Thankfully, the sore throat subsided the following day, and now, six days into this treatment, I'm testing negative for strep. Despite the negative test, I'm still noticing some troubling signs — namely, white patches on my tonsils, bad breath, and an unusual taste in my mouth. I don't feel any significant pain, though I occasionally sense a mild ache in my ear when I concentrate on it. At this point, I'm feeling quite uncertain about what steps to take next. I worry that once I finish this course of antibiotics, the illness will return, and I am eager to resolve this situation for good.
Answers (1)
6/20/2025, 2:20:51 AM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you're dealing with a frustrating and persistent throat issue that appears to be more complex than your initial strep throat diagnosis. Given your recent courses of antibiotics and ongoing symptoms—particularly the white patches on your tonsils, bad breath, and an unusual taste in your mouth—it's understandable to feel uncertain about what to do next.
Explanation:
The persistence of your symptoms, even after testing negative for strep, may suggest several possibilities. The white patches on your tonsils could be due to other types of infections (like viral infections), post-strep complications, or other conditions such as tonsillitis or even oral thrush, particularly if you're on long-term antibiotics. Bad breath and unusual taste can also be associated with tonsil stones or the presence of bacteria in the mouth or throat.
Next Steps:
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Continue Antibiotics as Prescribed: It's crucial to complete your course of clindamycin as directed. Ensure you take the full amount to help eliminate any bacteria.
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Monitor Symptoms: Keep a close eye on your symptoms. Make note of any changes, like increases in pain, fever, or noticeable swelling of the tonsils.
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Oral Hygiene: Maintain excellent oral hygiene to help reduce any potential bad breath and to manage bacteria in your mouth. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, and consider using a mouthwash that targets bacteria.
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Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. This helps your body recover and can alleviate throat discomfort.
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Saltwater Gargle: Gargling with warm salt water several times a day can soothe your throat and may help reduce the appearance of white patches.
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Diet Consideration: Avoid irritants such as spicy, acidic, or very hot foods that might worsen your throat discomfort. Focus on soft, soothing foods.
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Rest: Ensure you're getting enough rest, as your body needs time to heal.
If your symptoms do not improve after completing your course of clindamycin, or if you experience any worsening symptoms such as increasing pain, difficulty swallowing, or persistent fever, it would be wise to seek further medical attention.
Your health matters, and seeking relief from these ongoing symptoms is entirely valid. You're actively working to manage your health, which is important. Please take care and let me know if you have any further questions or if anything changes!
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