Inferior pole peritonsillar abscess successfully treated with non-surgical approach in four cases
Journal
Tzu Chi Medical Journal
Journal Volume
18
Journal Issue
4
Pages
287-290+330
Date Issued
2006
Author(s)
Abstract
Inferior pole peritonsillar abscess is uncommon and easily overlooked because it has no obvious physical appearance and there is a low index of suspicion by clinicians. In this report, we present four patients with inferior pole peritonsillar abscess who all had severe symptoms (fever, sore throat, muffled voice, trismus and painful neck) but had no obvious distortion of the peritonsillar structure. Careful oropharyngeal examination and a high index of suspicion are critical to make the diagnosis at an early disease stage, when the abscess can be treated with antibiotics without immediate tonsillectomy. This treatment strategy can be used if a patient is immunocompetent and the initial treatment response is good.
Subjects
Antibiotics; Deep neck infection; Inferior pole; Peritonsillar abscess
SDGs
Other Subjects
ampicillin; analgesic agent; antibiotic agent; sulbactam; adolescent; adult; article; case report; clinical examination; computer assisted tomography; conservative treatment; female; fever; human; laboratory test; laryngoscopy; male; neck pain; oropharynx; peritonsillar abscess; sore throat; tonsillectomy; trismus; voice change
Type
journal article