Peritonsillar abscess
A collection of pus between the tonsil capsule and the pharyngeal muscles (quinsy), forming when tonsillitis spreads beyond the tonsil into an adjacent tissue plane, producing trismus and a muffled voice that mark it out as a surgical emergency rather than severe tonsillitis.
Definition
A peritonsillar abscess (quinsy) is a collection of pus beside the tonsil, usually following acute tonsillitis or pharyngitis. It causes severe unilateral throat symptoms, trismus and a muffled voice and requires urgent ENT assessment, source control and antimicrobial treatment.
First principles
The peritonsillar space is a potential space that infection can track into
A peritonsillar abscess is infection and pus in the tissue plane beside the tonsil, beyond the tonsillar tissue itself. The important clinical distinction is a collection requiring urgent ENT assessment and source control, rather than uncomplicated pharyngitis or tonsillitis that can often be managed with supportive care and selective antibiotics.
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