Bilateral peritonsillar abscesses

A case of bilateral peritonsillar abscesses is reported. The patient was a 31-year-old male presenting with a severe sore throat, dysphagia, trismus and bilateral swelling of the soft palate causing no displacement of the uvula. Incision and drainage (I and D) and an interval tonsillectomy cured this condition. On review of the literature, it was noted that bilateral peritonsillar abscesses are not uncommon. Peritonsillar abscesses possibly occur bilaterally, but as the developmental stages of the abscesses are not simultaneous, immediate tonsillectomy or intensive antibiotic treatment following I and D controls the formation of the opposite side abscess in most cases.