Peritonsillar Abscess

Question 1

What is the biggest clue of a peritonsillar abscess?

Answer 1

Deviated uvula

Question 2

What is a peritonsillar abscess?

Answer 2

Complication of pharyngitis or tonsillitis that manifests itself initially as a cellulitis and develops into an infection between the anterior and posterior tonsillar pillars.

Question 3

What are assessment findings with this condition?

Answer 3

location of pain in the throat: suggests location of abscess
Muffled voice: "hot potato voice"
trismus: pain on opening of mouth
Displaced UVULA and medically displaced tonsil
drooling
Rancid breath
fever
progressively worsening sore throat
Dysphagia and odynophagia
Unilateral sore throat and ear pain

Question 4

What is the criteria for hospital admission?

Answer 4

Inability to swallow
trismus
Incision and drainage
Prehospital care: transport with oxygen

Question 5

What is gold standard diagnostic test?

Answer 5

Needle aspiration of abscess

**diagnosis however can be made after physical exam only

Question 6

What is treatment

Answer 6

Incision and drainage
Antibiotics: clindamycin or 2nd or 3rd line cephalosporin
penicillin G with flagyl or nafcillin

Question 7

T/F Peritonsillar abscesses tend to recur and tonsillectomy may be indicated 6 weeks after acute event

Answer 7

True

Question 8

Does uvula deviate away or towards the side of the infection?

Answer 8

The uvula deviates AWAY