Peritonsillar Abscess Flashcards
What are the symptoms of PTA?
Severe throat pain (unilateral)
Swelling
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
Muffled voice (“hot potato” voice)
Fever, chills
Leukocytosis (elevated WBC count)
what are the complications of PTA?
Airway obstruction due to severe swelling, which may cause difficulty breathing.
What do you assess for?
Throat swelling and tonsillar asymmetry
Difficulty swallowing and maintaining airway patency
Fever and signs of infection
Presence of muffled voice
What is PTA caused by?
Group A β-hemolytic streptococci (GAS)
How is PTA diagnosed?
Clinical examination (enlarged, deviated tonsil with swelling and pus).
CT scan if airway obstruction is suspected.
Laboratory Findings: Leukocytosis (↑ WBC count) due to infection.
what is the initial treatment?
IV antibiotics to control infection
what does needle aspiration or incision and drainage do to PTA?
removes pus
When is an emergency tonsillectomy done?
if airway obstruction occurs.
when is an elective tonsillectomy done?
after the infection resolves for recurrent abscesses.
What do Pt need to look out for?
Increased throat swelling
Difficulty breathing
Worsening dysphagia
Stridor or drooling
why do antibiotics need to be adhered to?
to prevent recurrence and complications (deep neck infections, sepsis)
