What is a peritonsillar abscess?
Peritonsillar abscess is the most common complication of tonsillitis (throat infection) and the bacteria most frequently involved in this type of abscess is Streptococcus.
An abscess is a collection of pus that forms and collects near the site of infection. It occurs due to the spread of the infection to the soft tissue located around the tonsils. This disease is seen most often in adults and rarely in infants or adolescents.
What are the symptoms of a peritonsillar abscess?
The abscess can cause a variety of symptoms such as severe sore throat (sore throat), inflammation of the throat, and blockage. If the throat is blocked, then swallowing, speaking (muffled voice also known as “hot potato” voice) and even breathing becomes difficult. There may also be a high fever and chills, ear pain on the affected side, and/or lockjaw (muscle spasm in the jaw muscles).
What are the risk factors for developing a perinthosillar abscess?
There are certain risk factors that make one more likely to get a peritonsillar abscess such as gum infections (gingivitis or periodontitis), chronic tonsillitis, smoking, infectious mononucleosis, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and stones or calcium deposits in the tonsils (tonsilloliths). ).
Diagnosis?
Usually, the diagnosis of a peritonsillar abscess is based on the history and physical examination during the patient’s visit. Diagnosis is usually easier as swelling and redness on one side of the throat near the affected tonsil suggest an abscess. The uvula (structure that hangs from the middle of the throat) can be pushed away from the inflamed side of the oropharynx. Also, sometimes if the doctor pokes the tonsil with a tongue depressor, they can see pus coming out of the infection site.
Laboratory studies, such as x-rays, CT scans (CT scans) of the neck, or MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging), are usually not required unless other upper respiratory tract diseases (epiglottitis, retropharyngeal abscess) are suspected. .
What is the treatment for a peritonsillar abscess?
There are several options for treatment depending on the severity of the case. One of the treatments involves puncturing the abscess with a needle to draw out the pus into a syringe. Also, an incision and drainage with a scalpel may be used to drain the pus.
Antibiotics will usually be administered intravenously, if the patient is very sick, has trouble swallowing, or has other medical problems such as diabetes, the patient needs to be hospitalized. But if the abscess drains well, then the patient may be discharged home with a checklist consisting of “alarm signs” such as bleeding, difficulty breathing or swallowing, slurred speech, drooling, high fever, and chills. , which would mean that the problem got worse. and that the patient’s life is in danger.
A tonsillectomy may be necessary in those cases in which there is an obstruction of the upper airway, or a history of chronic tonsillitis and patients with a previous episode of peritonsillar abscess.
What are the complications of a peritonsillar abscess?
The complications of a peritonsillar abscess can be significant and all of them are life-threatening. These complications are blocked airway, bleeding from erosion of the abscess into a major blood vessel, dehydration from difficulty swallowing, a deep abscess in the neck that could reach the site of the heart (mediastinum), pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis (bacteria in the blood).
This disease must be treated by a specialist, in this case an otolaryngologist (Dr. ENT).
So, if you experience a severe sore throat, difficulty breathing, swallowing or speaking, drooling, or other possible signs of upper airway obstruction, call your doctor immediately!
