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Peritonsillitis: abscess or cellulitis?
Pediatric Infectious Disease
|July 1, 1986
Summary
Peritonsillitis, encompassing cellulitis and abscess, presents similarly but differs in patient age. Abscess is more common in adolescents, with age, dysphagia, and drooling as key discriminators.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Peritonsillitis, a condition involving tonsillar inflammation, can manifest as either cellulitis or abscess.
- Distinguishing between peritonsillar cellulitis and abscess is crucial for appropriate management.
- Previous studies have not clearly defined the differentiating factors between these two conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the distinguishing clinical and demographic factors between peritonsillar cellulitis and peritonsillar abscess.
- To analyze the etiological agents responsible for each condition.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of 29 patients diagnosed with peritonsillitis (15 cellulitis, 14 abscess).
- Analysis of presenting complaints, physical examination findings, and patient demographics.
- Discriminant analysis was used to identify significant differentiating factors.
Main Results:
- Patients with peritonsillar abscess were significantly older (mean age 15.0 years) than those with cellulitis (mean age 10.8 years).
- Age, dysphagia, and drooling were identified as significant discriminators for abscess.
- Trismus was a significant discriminator for cellulitis.
Conclusions:
- Peritonsillar abscess is more likely to occur in adolescent patients.
- While initial presentations may be similar, specific symptoms like dysphagia and drooling, along with age, can help differentiate abscess from cellulitis.
- Intravenous penicillin and prompt drainage for refractory cases are recommended therapies.