Related Subjects:
|Assessing Hearing Loss
|Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
|Cholesteatoma
|Epistaxis (Nosebleeds)
|Acute Mastoiditis
|Nasal polyps
|Peritonsillar Abscess (Quinsy)
|Acute Sinusitis
|Sudden Sensorineural Hearing loss (SNHL)
|Causes of Vertigo
📖 About
- 🤒 Peritonsillar abscess (quinsy) is a collection of pus in the tissues adjacent to the tonsil, usually arising as a complication of acute tonsillitis or severe sore throat.
- ⚠️ It is a potentially serious ENT infection because it can cause airway compromise, dehydration, and spread into deeper neck tissues.
- 👩⚕️ It is most common in adolescents and young adults, but can occur at any age.
🧬 Aetiology
- 🦠 Usually follows acute tonsillitis or severe pharyngeal infection.
- 📍 The abscess develops in the peritonsillar space beside the palatine tonsil.
- 🧫 Infection is often polymicrobial, including streptococci and anaerobic organisms.
🩺 Clinical Presentation
- 🔥 Severe unilateral sore throat, often radiating to the ear.
- 🚫 Odynophagia and difficulty swallowing; drooling may occur.
- 🤐 Trismus.
- 🗣️ Muffled “hot potato” voice.
- 🌡️ Fever and systemic upset.
- 👅 Peritonsillar swelling, asymmetry of the soft palate, and uvular deviation away from the affected side.
- 💧 Dehydration may develop because oral intake is poor.
🔎 Assessment
- 👀 Diagnosis is mainly clinical.
- 🚨 Always assess for airway compromise, sepsis, and dehydration.
- 🧪 Blood tests may be used in hospital assessment, especially if systemically unwell.
- 🖼️ Imaging such as CT neck with contrast may be needed if the diagnosis is uncertain or deep neck infection is suspected.
⚠️ Complications
- 😮 Airway compromise.
- 💧 Dehydration due to inability to swallow.
- 🦠 Spread into deeper neck spaces.
- 🌬️ Aspiration if the abscess ruptures.
💊 Management
- 🚑 Same-day ENT referral is required for suspected quinsy.
- 💊 Treatment usually includes analgesia, antibiotics, and assessment for drainage.
- 💉 ENT may perform needle aspiration or incision and drainage if needed.
- 💧 Supportive care includes hydration and monitoring for airway problems.
- 🔁 Tonsillectomy may be considered later in selected patients, for example with recurrent quinsy or recurrent tonsillitis.
📚 References
