Quinsy; Abscess - peritonsillar; Tonsillitis - abscess DefinitionPeritonsillar abscess is a collection of infected material in the area around the tonsils. CausesPeritonsillar abscess is a complication of tonsillitis. It is most often caused by a type of bacteria called group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus. Peritonsillar abscess most often occurs in older children, adolescents, and young adults. The condition is rare now that antibiotics are used to treat tonsillitis. SymptomsOne or both tonsils become infected. The infection may spread to the area around the tonsil. It can then spread down into the neck and chest. Swollen tissues can block the airway. This is a life-threatening medical emergency. The abscess can break open (rupture) into the throat. The contents of the abscess can travel into the lungs and cause pneumonia. Symptoms of peritonsillar abscess include:
Exams and TestsAn exam of the throat often shows swelling on one side and on the roof of the mouth. The uvula in the back of the throat may be shifted away from the swelling. The neck and throat may be red and swollen on one or both sides. The following tests may be done:
TreatmentThe infection can be treated with antibiotics if it is caught early. If an abscess has developed, it will need to be drained with a needle or by cutting it open. You will be given pain medicine before this is done. If the infection is very severe, the tonsils will be removed at the same time the abscess is drained, but this is rare. In this case, you will have general anesthesia so you will be asleep and pain-free. Outlook (Prognosis)In most cases, peritonsillar abscess goes away with treatment. The infection may return in the future. Possible ComplicationsComplications may include:
When to Contact a Medical ProfessionalContact your health care provider right away if you have had tonsillitis and you develop symptoms of peritonsillar abscess. Contact your provider if you have:
PreventionQuick treatment of tonsillitis, especially if it is caused by bacteria, may help prevent this condition. ReferencesPappas DE, Hendley JO. Retropharyngeal abscess, lateral pharyngeal (parapharyngeal) abscess, and peritonsillar cellulitis/abscess. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 410. Roginski MA, Atchinson PR. Upper respiratory tract infections. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 61. Waage RK. Peritonsillar abscess drainage. In: Fowler GC, ed. Pfenninger and Fowler's Procedures for Primary Care. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 206. | |
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Review Date: 11/29/2022 Reviewed By: Josef Shargorodsky, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. | |
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Lymphatic system
Throat anatomy
