
Zach, wtf. I had tonsilitis last year and I was totally fine after a few days of taking antibiotics.
There are two forms of iit. Viral tonsilitis and Bacterial tonsilitis. Bacterial is the one with the very high fever and with the big yellow dots on the tonsils and troat and massive irritation to everything closeby. Wich is why at some point you'll be eating liquids only.
Thats the one i had twice, and Vidal now has. Because Vidal got IV antibiotics, he'll heal faster, but the side effects of IV antibiotics are about the same as oral penicilinne based ones (usually amoxilin + clavulanic acid), He'll have reduced cardiovascular ability and stamina for about 2 weeks.
Viral tonsilitis is the common one. Dokters will prescribe antibiotics to avoid opportunity infections, and most of all, to avoid a bacterial infection aswel. Its indeed gone after 2-3 days, you wont suffer nearly as much, and the dosage given is usually lighter.
You'd still feel the antibiotic side effects, if you do a serious strength sport, or an endurance sport.