I've had strep throat like symptoms, but it's not strep throat. I've had 4 different doctors do 4 different swabs, one of which when to the CDC, they all came back clean. I've been to an ear nose and throat doctor who scoped me and saw nothing. An allergist who prescribed me antiviral meds (Valacyclovir Hydrochloride 1000mg), steroids to help with swelling and other medications to previously try. Needless to say, they haven't worked. I've also tried various drugs a year ago when doctors thought it was strep throat.
I have a constant sore throat, pain talking, pain swallowing, swollen lymph nodes, orange lumps, enlarged tonsils, and I also have cankers (but I have had these all of my life), it often affects my ears making them clogged, my mucus is thick and often has pathetically small amounts of blood in it.
I first started having these symptoms in April of 2015 so bad I was bed ridden for two weeks until they were not as bad. Followed by an on-and-off sore throat. January of 2016, the strep symptoms returned and only got worse. It now stays permanently but has a month in between weeks of swelling and severe pain.
To view images of my throat and names of different medications and dose, you can go here: https://goo.gl/photos/H4fX11AxgdJYV8Q16