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Peritonsillar abscess
A painful, serious condition characterized by an abscess that forms in the throat, near the tonsils.
Dr. Geoffrey Rutledge reviewed this
39 year experience in Internal Medicine
Is a type of:
How long it usually lasts:
How common it is:
Baby 0-2 | |||||
Preteen 6-13 | Common | ||||
Teenager 14-18 | Common | ||||
Young adult 19-40 | Common | ||||
Middle-aged adult 41-60 | Common |
How it can usually be treated?
How is it usually diagnosed?
Symptoms
Medications
Procedures
Surgery
Tests
Related questions
A 36-year old asked:
What is peritonsillar abscess?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 34-year old asked:
Do peritonsillar abscesses hurt?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
A 41-year old asked:
What does peritonsillar abscess actually mean?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in
A 20-year old male asked:
Can peritonsillar abscesses go away eventually?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 43-year old asked:
How to tell if I have a "peritonsillar abscess"?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A member asked:
What are the most common symptoms of peritonsillar abscess?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
A 28-year old male asked:
What is the definition or description of: peritonsillar abscess?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 41-year old asked:
Should i go to emergency if i know I have a peritonsillar abscess?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 44-year old male asked:
If you have a peritonsillar abscess how likely are you to have it happen again?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 41-year old asked:
Is a peritonsillar abscess contagious?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 17-year old female asked:
How long is a peritonsillar abscess contagious?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 38-year old asked:
My peritonsillar abscess just drained, what do I do now?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 46-year old female asked:
Can Crohn's disease and a peritonsillar abscess be related?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 35-year old asked:
Should i go to the emergency room if I have a peritonsillar abscess?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
A 42-year old asked:
Is there any way to stop peritonsillar abscesses (quinsy) from forming?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 18-year old male asked:
I have the symptoms of Peritonsillar Abscess Do I have to get the puss pocket surgically removed? I'm 18 The puss pocket hurts
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A female asked:
I have a peritonsillar abscess and a piece of my tonsil is hanging off. Should I be concerned ? Should I try to remove it or will it fall off by itsel
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 43-year old asked:
What is the treatment for a peritonsillar abscess?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 45-year old asked:
Can getting a peritonsillar abscess drained hurt?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
A member asked:
Do doctors see a lot of patients with peritonsillar abscess?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 45-year old asked:
Peritonsillar abscess - prescribed antibiotic shot, what to do?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in
A 32-year old female asked:
I was wondering if a peritonsillar abscess is contagious and if so what's the likelyhood my toddler will get it if exposed.
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
A 30-year old asked:
Is there an over-the-counter treatment for peritonsillar abscess?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 50-year old female asked:
Left ear feels clogged and popping. my throat hurts s bad i cant swallow, eat, or drink anything! my left tonsil was so swollen my throat looks sideways, uvula is not even there! they said i have peritonsillar abscess how do i stop/numb throat pain?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 27-year old male asked:
I have peritonsillar abscess. Could this be any indication of HIV or herpes?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 35-year old female asked:
I have a Peritonsillar abscess and I am breastfeeding a baby 15 weeks of age who loves kisses. Can I infect my baby? How do we test him to find out?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
A 24-year old female asked:
Have peritonsillar abscess (past tonsillitis & tonsilloliths) Should I manage symptoms or go in? Pain lower but abscess growing (2-3mm now). No fever
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 21-year old female asked:
I have had a peritonsillar abscess two times in the past two years. Should I get a tonsillectomy? My ENT told me it was ultimately up to me and I am conflicted. What do you recommend I do?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
A female asked:
Should I go to urgent care for a peritonsillar abscess? I made an appointment with an ENT but they can't see me until the 9th. I'm swollen and in pain
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in
A 41-year old asked:
I just had a peritonsillar abscess in my throat drained. How long should it take for me to be completely healed?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
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