Version July 2025
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What is a peritonsillar abscess? —
A peritonsillar abscess, or "PTA," is an infection around the tonsil (figure 1). The tonsils are areas of soft tissue in the back of the throat. A PTA can cause problems breathing and infect other parts of the mouth and neck.
A PTA is more likely to happen after another infection in the throat, tooth, or gums. It is more common in teens and young adults. Smoking raises the risk of a PTA.
What are the symptoms of a PTA? —
People often have a very bad sore throat, especially on 1 side. They might also have:
●Fever
●A muffled, nasal voice
●Drooling, or not being able to swallow saliva
●Pain when opening the mouth, or difficulty opening the mouth
●Ear pain
Is there a test for PTA? —
Your doctor might be able to diagnose a PTA just by doing an exam. They will examine your throat and ask about your symptoms.
In some cases, the doctor might order lab tests to learn more about your condition and decide on the best treatment plan. They might also order imaging tests to help decide if the abscess needs to be drained. Imaging tests create pictures of the inside of the body. They might include:
●CT scan
●Ultrasound, which uses sound waves to look inside the neck and throat
How is a PTA treated? —
Treatment is based on the size of the abscess. If your abscess is small and you can swallow, you might be treated with antibiotics and pain medicine.
Larger abscesses are also treated with antibiotics and pain medicines, but they might need to be drained, too. The doctor might make a small cut or use a needle to drain the pus.
The doctor might also want to do surgery to remove your tonsils. This called "tonsillectomy."
What can I do on my own? —
You should:
●Take all your medicines as instructed:
•It is very important to finish all your antibiotics, even if start to feel better.
•Take non-prescription medicines to relieve pain, such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve).
●Drink plenty of liquids. This can be water, juice, broth, or an electrolyte drink you can buy in a store or pharmacy (like Gatorade). You might not feel like drinking while your throat hurts, but it's important to stay hydrated.
●If your throat feels too sore to eat solid foods, try eating a soft diet. This includes soft foods like milkshakes, eggs, mashed potatoes, and soup.
What follow-up care do I need? —
The doctor might want to see you in the next day or so to make sure you are getting better. If you were in the hospital, the doctor might want to see you a few days after you go home. Go to these appointments.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if:
●You have trouble breathing.
Call for advice if:
●You still have signs of infection after a day or 2 of taking antibiotics – This includes a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills.
●You have trouble swallowing food, liquids, or your saliva.
●You have more throat or neck pain.
●Your throat feels more swollen.
●Your neck feels stiffer.
●You are bleeding from the back of your throat.
Patient education: Sore throat in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Sore throat in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Strep throat in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Strep throat in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Tonsillectomy in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in children (The Basics)
Patient education: What you should know about antibiotics (The Basics)
Patient education: Sore throat in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Sore throat in children (Beyond the Basics)
