Clinical findings in a patient with a peritonsillar abscess:
(1) febrile and ill-appearing
(2) malaise
(3) dysphagia and pain on swallowing
(4) otalgia on the same side as the affected tonsil
(5) severe pain in the throat, which may unilateral
(6) trismus with pain on opening the mouth
(7) drooling (since swallowing is painful the saliva tends to pool in the mouth)
(8) muffled "hot potato" voice
(9) bad (fetor, rancid) breath
(10) tender cervical lymphadenopathy
(11) swollen soft palate with deviation of the uvula to the opposite side
(12) swollen and erythematous tonsil which may show an exudate
Laboratory findings:
(1) leukocytosis with left shift
(2) elevated ESR
(3) pus on needle aspiration
Imaging studies: ultrasonography, CT and/or MRI
