Peritonsillar abscess history and symptoms
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Prince Tano Djan, BSc, MBChB [2]
Overview
Patients presenting with peritonsillar abscess may have a prior history of acute tonsillitis. Symptoms start appearing 2-8 days before the formation of abscess. Common symptoms of peritonsillar abscess include drooling, dysphagia, foul smelling breath, fever, headache, hoarseness, muffled voice (also called hot potato voice), odynophagia, otalgia, sore throat and stridor.[1][2]
History and symptoms
History
Patients presenting with peritonsillar abscess may have a prior history of acute tonsillitis. Symptoms start appearing 2-8 days before the formation of abscess.
Common symptoms
Common symptoms of peritonsillar abscess include:[2]
- Drooling
- Dysphagia
- Foul smelling breath
- Fever
- Headache
- Hoarseness, muffled voice (also called hot potato voice)
- Odynophagia
- Otalgia (on the side of the abscess)
- Sore throat ( may be severe and unilateral)
Less common symptoms
Less common symptoms of peritonsillar abscess include:
References
- ↑ Ferri, Fred (2015). Ferri’s clinical advisor 2015 : 5 books in 1. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier/Mosby. ISBN 978-0323083751.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Galioto NJ (2008). “Peritonsillar abscess”. Am Fam Physician. 77 (2): 199–202. PMID 18246890.
- ↑ Ferri, Fred (2015). Ferri’s clinical advisor 2015 : 5 books in 1. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier/Mosby. ISBN 978-0323083751.
© 2026 MyEClinic – IFTM Institut für Telematik in der Medizin GmbH