peritonsillar abscess

Etiology

• occurs as a complication of bacterial tonsillitis
• group A Streptococcus (45%)
• anaerobes (18%)
• may be coinfection

Epidemiology

• most common deep neck infection in adults

Clinical manifestations

• increasing sore throat, worsening pharyngitis
• fever
• unilateral otalgia
• eventual development of
  • dysarthria
  • trismus (lockjaw)
  • tender fluctuant mass
    • described as unilateral edema & erythema of tonsil [NEJM]
  • muffled voice
  • deviation of the uvula
• medially displaced tonsil

Management

• needle aspiration by an otolaryngologist
  • incision & drainage is an alternative
• penicillin
• clindamycin

More general terms

• abscess
• upper respiratory tract infection (URI, common cold)

Additional terms

• palatine tonsil (faucial tonsil, tonsilla)
• tonsillitis