Peritonsillar Abscess / Deep Neck Abscess Quiz
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Sore throat
My throat is red
White spots at the back of the throat
Swallowing difficulties
Choking on saliva/spit
Shortness of breath
Have a fever
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Peritonsillar Abscess / Deep Neck Abscess?
A bacterial infection of the areas around the tonsils and deep parts of the neck. Pus accumulates in these areas forming an abscess.
Typical Symptoms of Peritonsillar Abscess / Deep Neck Abscess
- Thick, muffled voice
- Discharge of yellow or green sputum.
- Recurrent tonsilIitis / tonsil infections
- Difficulty swallowing
- Sore throat with pain when swallowing
- Drooling
- Uvula deviated or pushed to the side due to throat swelling
- Earache
Diagnostic Questions for Peritonsillar Abscess / Deep Neck Abscess
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Is your voice muffled or unclear when talking?
- Do you have yellow or green sputum?
- Have you had repeated tonsillitis?
- Do you have difficulty swallowing?
- Do you have a sore throat with pain when swallowing?
Treatment of Peritonsillar Abscess / Deep Neck Abscess
This condition is typically treated with antibiotics and often requires hospitalization. If the abscess is large, a surgeon may need to cut or drain the abscess to remove the pus and treat the infection.
Reviewed By:
Kenji Taylor, MD, MSc (Family Medicine, Primary Care)
Dr. Taylor is a Japanese-African American physician who grew up and was educated in the United States but spent a considerable amount of time in Japan as a college student, working professional and now father of three. After graduating from Brown, he worked in finance first before attending medical school at Penn. He then completed a fellowship with the Centers for Disease Control before going on to specialize in Family and Community Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) where he was also a chief resident. After a faculty position at Stanford, he moved with his family to Japan where he continues to see families on a military base outside of Tokyo, teach Japanese residents and serve remotely as a medical director for Roots Community Health Center. He also enjoys editing and writing podcast summaries for Hippo Education.
Rohini R, MD (Otolaryngology (ENT))
Dr. Rohini R is an ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon, with a Fellowship in Advanced Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery and a Fellowship in Aesthetic Medicine and Lasers. Besides clinical practice and working with Ubie, she is actively training and mentoring medical students and residents. She has functioned in various work settings - teaching hospitals, private and free health centers, and worked with patients from all socioeconomic backgrounds due to her experience in free hospitals and volunteering in India and Singapore.
Content updated on Feb 19, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Esposito S, De Guido C, Pappalardo M, Laudisio S, Meccariello G, Capoferri G, Rahman S, Vicini C, Principi N (2021). Retropharyngeal, Parapharyngeal and Peritonsillar Abscesses. Children (Basel, Switzerland).
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35626793/Klug TE (2017). Peritonsillar abscess: clinical aspects of microbiology, risk factors, and the association with parapharyngeal abscess. Danish medical journal.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28260599/Herzon FS, Martin AD (2006). Medical and surgical treatment of peritonsillar, retropharyngeal, and parapharyngeal abscesses. Current infectious disease reports.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16643771/