Peritonsillar Abscess

Diagnosis

Your doctor will examine your throat, mouth and neck, and swab your throat. Material on the swab is sent to the laboratory for a culture, which can identify the type of bacteria causing the infection. Your doctor may want to look at your throat by using a small telescope on flexible lighted tube, called an endoscope. He or she may also order an x-ray or computed tomography (CT) scan to better see the extent of infection in the soft tissues of the neck.

Expected Duration

After treatment, symptoms should disappear within five to seven days.