Peritonsillar Abscess

Peritonsillar abscess is an infected area in your throat that is filled with pus. It forms behind your tonsils. This may be treated by:

• Draining the pus. Your doctor may do this with a syringe and a needle (needle aspiration) or by making a cut in the abscess.
• Using antibiotic medicine.

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your doctor.
• If you were prescribed an antibiotic, take it as told by your doctor. Do not stop taking the antibiotic even if you start to feel better.

Eating and drinking

• Drink enough fluid to keep your pee (urine) pale yellow.
• While your throat is sore, try one of these:
  • Only drinking liquids.
  • Eating only soft foods, such as yogurt and ice cream.

General instructions

• Rest as much as you can. Get plenty of sleep.
• Return to your normal activities as told by your doctor. Ask your doctor what activities are safe for you.
• If your abscess was drained, gargle with a salt-water mixture 3–4 times a day or as needed.
  • To make a salt-water mixture, completely dissolve ½–1 tsp of salt in 1 cup of warm water.
  • Do not swallow this mixture.
• Do not use any products that have nicotine or tobacco in them. These include cigarettes and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your doctor.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your doctor. This is important.

Contact a doctor if you have:

• More pain, swelling, redness, or pus in your throat.
• A headache.
• Low energy (lethargy).
• A general feeling of illness (malaise).
• A fever.
• Dizziness.
• Trouble swallowing.
• Trouble eating.
• Signs of body fluid loss (dehydration), such as:
  • Feeling light-headed when you are standing.
  • Peeing (urinating) less than usual.
  • A fast heart rate.
  • Dry mouth.

Get help right away if you:

• Have trouble talking.
• Have trouble breathing.
• Breathing is easier when you lean forward.
• Cough up blood.
• Throw up (vomit) blood.
• Have very bad throat pain and it does not get better with medicine.

Summary

• A peritonsillar abscess is an infected area in your throat that is filled with pus.
• You may be treated by having the abscess drained and by taking antibiotic medicine.
• Contact a doctor if you have trouble swallowing or eating.
• Get help right away if you cough up blood or see blood when you throw up (vomit).