Simultaneous bilateral peritonsillar abscess in an adolescent

Aim of the study: The aim of this case report is to emphasise the importance of meticulous history-taking and examination, and to raise the awareness of various possibilities of diagnosis and management. Unilateral peritonsillar abscess is a common complication of acute bacterial tonsillitis. Howeve...

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Main Authors: Malik, Muhammad Fawwaz Meor Abdul, Saniasiaya, Jeyasakthy, Gani, Norhaslinda Abdul
Format: Article
Published: Medical Communications 2021
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Online Access:http://eprints.um.edu.my/35182/
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spelling my.um.eprints.351822023-12-01T07:06:15Z http://eprints.um.edu.my/35182/ Simultaneous bilateral peritonsillar abscess in an adolescent Malik, Muhammad Fawwaz Meor Abdul Saniasiaya, Jeyasakthy Gani, Norhaslinda Abdul RJ Pediatrics Aim of the study: The aim of this case report is to emphasise the importance of meticulous history-taking and examination, and to raise the awareness of various possibilities of diagnosis and management. Unilateral peritonsillar abscess is a common complication of acute bacterial tonsillitis. However, bilateral peritonsillar abscess is considered rare, and only a meagre number of cases has been reported to date in the English medical literature. The challenging part involved in the diagnosis of bilateral peritonsillar abscess is the absence of common physical findings of unilateral peritonsillar abscess. Case report: We present a case of a teenage girl who presented with a history of worsening sore throat, odynophagia and muffled voice, which turned out to be bilateral peritonsillar abscess. Oropharyngeal examination revealed bilateral peritonsillar fullness, and pus was aspirated bilaterally. The patient underwent bilateral peritonsillar incision and drainage, and was discharged well after a few days, with no recurrence. Bilateral peritonsillar abscess can present with usual symptoms, but physical findings may vary. Conclusion: Proper history-taking and meticulous physical examination may direct the physician towards correct diagnosis, and an imaging evaluation is warranted if in doubt, so as to avoid unwanted perilous complications. Medical Communications 2021 Article PeerReviewed Malik, Muhammad Fawwaz Meor Abdul and Saniasiaya, Jeyasakthy and Gani, Norhaslinda Abdul (2021) Simultaneous bilateral peritonsillar abscess in an adolescent. Pediatria I Medycyna Rodzinna, 17 (1). pp. 84-86. ISSN 1734-1531, DOI https://doi.org/10.15557/PiMR.2021.0015 <https://doi.org/10.15557/PiMR.2021.0015>. 10.15557/PiMR.2021.0015
institution Universiti Malaya
building UM Library
collection Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
content_provider Universiti Malaya
content_source UM Research Repository
url_provider http://eprints.um.edu.my/
topic RJ Pediatrics
spellingShingle RJ Pediatrics
Malik, Muhammad Fawwaz Meor Abdul
Saniasiaya, Jeyasakthy
Gani, Norhaslinda Abdul
Simultaneous bilateral peritonsillar abscess in an adolescent
description Aim of the study: The aim of this case report is to emphasise the importance of meticulous history-taking and examination, and to raise the awareness of various possibilities of diagnosis and management. Unilateral peritonsillar abscess is a common complication of acute bacterial tonsillitis. However, bilateral peritonsillar abscess is considered rare, and only a meagre number of cases has been reported to date in the English medical literature. The challenging part involved in the diagnosis of bilateral peritonsillar abscess is the absence of common physical findings of unilateral peritonsillar abscess. Case report: We present a case of a teenage girl who presented with a history of worsening sore throat, odynophagia and muffled voice, which turned out to be bilateral peritonsillar abscess. Oropharyngeal examination revealed bilateral peritonsillar fullness, and pus was aspirated bilaterally. The patient underwent bilateral peritonsillar incision and drainage, and was discharged well after a few days, with no recurrence. Bilateral peritonsillar abscess can present with usual symptoms, but physical findings may vary. Conclusion: Proper history-taking and meticulous physical examination may direct the physician towards correct diagnosis, and an imaging evaluation is warranted if in doubt, so as to avoid unwanted perilous complications.
format Article
author Malik, Muhammad Fawwaz Meor Abdul
Saniasiaya, Jeyasakthy
Gani, Norhaslinda Abdul
author_facet Malik, Muhammad Fawwaz Meor Abdul
Saniasiaya, Jeyasakthy
Gani, Norhaslinda Abdul
author_sort Malik, Muhammad Fawwaz Meor Abdul
title Simultaneous bilateral peritonsillar abscess in an adolescent
title_short Simultaneous bilateral peritonsillar abscess in an adolescent
title_full Simultaneous bilateral peritonsillar abscess in an adolescent
title_fullStr Simultaneous bilateral peritonsillar abscess in an adolescent
title_full_unstemmed Simultaneous bilateral peritonsillar abscess in an adolescent
title_sort simultaneous bilateral peritonsillar abscess in an adolescent
publisher Medical Communications
publishDate 2021
url http://eprints.um.edu.my/35182/
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