Medical Services

Usually between the tonsils and the throat wall, a peritonsillar abscess (PTA), sometimes called quinsy, is a collection of pus formed near the tonsils. Usually resulting from untreated or severe tonsillitis, it affects young adults and teenagers most often. Usually a combination of microorganisms, including Streptococcus pyogenes, causes the infection.
Typical symptoms include fever, muffled voice (commonly referred to as "hot potato voice), difficulty swallowing, severe sore throat (often on one side), drooling, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck." In more severe cases, the swelling may block airflow or cause dehydration due to difficulty swallowing liquids.
Usually based on physical examination, diagnosis is made; in unsure circumstances, imaging such as an ultrasound or CT scan may be employed. Usually under local anaesthetic, treatment consists of emptying the abscess by needle aspiration or incision and drainage. Additionally recommended to treat the underlying infection are antibiotics.
Early treatment is absolutely vital to avoid consequences such as the airway becoming compromised or infection spreading to deeper neck tissues. Early throat infections treated and proper dental hygiene help lower the chance of a peritonsillar abscess developing.