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Tonsillitis & quinsy

Tonsillitis et abscessus peritonsillaris · Angína a peritonzilární absces

What it is

Viral or streptococcal infection of the tonsils; an abscess beside one is a quinsy.

Symptoms & signs

  • Severe sore throat
  • painful swallowing
  • fever
  • swollen neck glands
  • white patches
  • trismus and muffled voice in quinsy

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Trouble breathing, drooling or unable to swallow saliva
  • call 112 / 911 now Noisy breathing or a muffled voice with severe throat pain
  • see a doctor soon Severe pain on one side, trouble opening the mouth or a swollen neck
  • see a doctor soon No fluids kept down, or no improvement after 3 to 4 days

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Analgesia and fluids
  • penicillin when the Centor score is high
  • drainage of a quinsy
  • tonsillectomy for repeated attacks

Natural & lifestyle

  • Salt-water gargles
  • honey and warm fluids
  • rest
  • hand hygiene

Emerging & experimental

  • Point-of-care strep testing
  • steroid single dose for severe pain

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Sage and echinacea throat spray — trials show pain relief mixed evidence
  • Honey — small studies of soothing early / small studies
  • Apple cider vinegar gargles — anecdotal anecdotal / traditional

ICD codes