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I got a 167 on my first LSAT. Most of my PTs were in the 170s, so I wanted to retake. I took the Sept 2018 LSAT and scored a 161. I was sick and had a fever for days before the test, and was feverish and tired on the day of the test. I took it anyway.

Should I write a short addendum on my applications to explain the 161? Would that look like whining? Will the 161 hurt me, if my first score was 167? I'll be applying to schools where the mean LSAT is around 167-168.

I think you should retake. If you first got a 167, provided it wasn't a fluke, and you studied but were sick which led to the 161, I think you can get a much better score UNLESS the 167 was the fluke. So you should prove that you're the 167+ instead of the 161.

Agree with advice to retake. One, 167 is in the range where every single point is hugely important, and two, you were PTing in the 170s, so you know you can likely improve on the 167. Your outcomes - acceptances and possibly merit scholarships - will be very different with a 167 vs. a 170+ score.

I'm not sure an addendum would help in any case. You didn't get unexpectedly sick during the test - you were very ill for days beforehand, and also very ill the day of the test, yet still went for it, which kinda demonstrates bad judgment on your part.