
Having Soar Throat And Sore Neck. Strep Test Negative. Having White Stuff Behind Tonsils. What To Do?

Thanks for the query and a detailed description.
After going through your description, I do feel you are suffering from a condition called acute tonsillo-pharyngitis.
The appearance of redness and the red spots over the pharyngeal wall are the signs of inflammation and acute infection in the throat. Similarly, the white slough over the tonsils is also because of active infection. The streptococcal test was negative because you had already taken z-pack and the organism does not grow after taking antibiotics.
Finally, Z-pack is not the drug of choice for acute tonsillitis. You need to take antibiotics such as combination of amoxycillin and clavulanic acid or cefuroxime.
Apart from this, you need to follow the adjuvant therapy such as:
1. Drinking plenty of warm water
2. Taking anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen or diclofenac
3. Povidone iodine throat spray or gargles 3-4 times a day after food
4. Avoiding chilled/hot food and beverages, coffee and smoking/alcohol if any
5. Also, you can try taking a short course of oral steroids which will relieve your symptoms immediately
Hope I have answered your query; I will be available for the follow-up queries.
Regards
Dr. Naveen Kumar N.
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon


thank you so much for your answer. I am wondering if penicillin would also work instead of amoxicillin?
Thank you
Thanks for writing back
Penicillin is a wonderful drug, you can definitely use it. If the infection is resistant to penicillin, then you can try taking the antibiotics as mentioned in my previous response.
I wish you good health.
Regards
Dr. Naveen Kumar N.
ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon

Answered by

Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Nanjasetty
Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist
Practicing since :2001
Answered : 2545 Questions
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