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Acute Pharyngitis, Tonsillitis, and Peritonsillar Abscess

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Infections of the Ears, Nose, Throat, and Sinuses

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Abstract

Most cases of pharyngitis are viral, but distinguishing viral from bacterial infections clinically is difficult. A rapid antigen detection test and/or throat culture is required to distinguish viral pharyngitis from pharyngitis due to group A Streptococcus (GAS), although a clinical scoring system can be helpful in predicting viral cases. Fusobacterium necrophorum, an anaerobe, is not identified on routine throat culture, yet it is a common cause of pharyngitis and peritonsillar abscess in adolescents and young adults. Peritonsillar abscess usually requires surgical drainage by needle aspiration or incision, in addition to antibiotic therapy. This chapter reviews the epidemiology, microbiology, clinical features, differential diagnosis, and treatment of pharyngitis and peritonsillar abscess.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Ramy Elshaboury PharmD., B.C.P.S.-A.Q. I.D. for his review of Table 17.3.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Molly L. Paras & Miriam B. Barshak

  2. Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, USA

    Miriam B. Barshak

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  1. Molly L. Paras
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Correspondence to Miriam B. Barshak .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Marlene L. Durand

  2. Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Daniel G. Deschler

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Paras, M.L., Barshak, M.B. (2018). Acute Pharyngitis, Tonsillitis, and Peritonsillar Abscess. In: Durand, M., Deschler, D. (eds) Infections of the Ears, Nose, Throat, and Sinuses. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74835-1_17

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