Peritonsillar abscess

Uvula deviation, sore throat, fever? Learn all about peritonsillar abscesses in this episode!

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This episode was written by pediatricians Tammy Yau and Lidia Park with content support from Dean Blumberg (UC Davis pediatric infectious disease). Pediatricians Tammy and Lidia take full responsibility for any errors or misinformation.

Key Points:

• Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is a suppurative infection of the tissue between the palatine tonsil capsule and the pharyngeal muscles
• Symptoms include fever, sore throat, uvular deviation, trismus, voice changes, drooling, unilateral tonsillar swelling with deviation of the uvula to the contralateral side
• Diagnosis can be clinical but imaging is often obtained
• Treat with antibiotics (empiric amoxicillin, cephalosporin, or clindamycin but adjust based on cultures) and incision and drainage

Sources:

• A Clinical Approach to Tonsillitis, Tonsillar Hypertrophy, and Peritonsillar and Retropharyngeal Abscesses. R Bochner, et al. Pediatrics in Review (2017) 38 (2): 81–92. https://doi.org/10.1542/pir.2016-0072