Thursday, March 12, 2009

Quinsy


Quinsy, or peritonsillar abscess, refers to a complication of tonsilitis. George Washington is believed to have died of complications of quinsy.
Patients with quinsy usually have fever, sore throat, muffled voice. Many cannot swallow or open mouth. Quinsy usually affects only one side of the throat.


Quinsy on the right side of throat

Left untreated, quinsy may result in more serious complications such as airway obstruction, rupture of abscess. Rupture of abscess results in the accumulation of pus in a space that surrounds the throat. This complication can be lethal.

Quinsy must be drained. Intraveous antibiotics are also required. Doctors usually prescribe ampicillin-sulbactam, a combination of penicillin G and metronidazole, or clindamycin.

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