I was diagnosed with strep throat 5 days ago and have been on antibiotics since then. my throat feels worse now and there are white patches.

Strep throat: Strep throat is a self limited disease.No study has shown that treatment shortens its course.That being said the real reason we treat strep is to prevent a very serious potential side effect,rheumatic fever. We want to prevent that so you don't get damage to your heart namely damage to the mitral valve. Now, after saying all that, you should be improving, so something else is occurring. be seen!

Continue with meds: It is possible that you have not given it enough time yet. It is also possible that you are just a strep carrier and that actual cause of your sore throat is a virus. Viruses do not respond to antibiotics. If your symptoms continue at the same level for another 3-4 days without improvement the see your doctor. If you have no allergies to it you could try ibuprofen for the pain.

Continue taking meds: Although you are taking medication for your tonsillitis you still may have some pain. Continue taking your antibiotics as prescribed. If your doctor did not take a culture and assumed you had Streptococcal infection based on signs and symptoms, then you may have a viral illness and the antibiotics will not be helpful but your symptoms will resolve on their own. Follow up with your PCP