Potential Complications of a Peritonsillar Abscess

 

Risk factors for complications:

(1) bilateral disease

(2) diabetes

(3) neglected

(4) immunocompromised status

 

Infection-related:

(1) aspiration with pneumonia or lung abscess

(2) bacteremia

(3) brain abscess

(4) extension into the neck (cellulitis, abscess, Ludwig angina)

(5) mediastinitis

(6) suppurative lymphadenitis

 

Airway complications:

(1) obstruction

 

Vascular complications:

(1) destruction of the carotid arterial wall with massive hemorrhage

(2) septic venous thrombophlebitis

(3) stroke

 

Immune-mediated complications:

(1) if Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A beta-hemolytic) is present: post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, rheumatic fever