A peritonsillar abscess (PTA), also known as a quinsy, is an accumulation of pus due to an infection behind the tonsil.

[2] Symptoms include fever, throat pain, trouble opening the mouth, and a change to the voice.

A progressively severe sore throat on one side and pain during swallowing (odynophagia) usually are the earliest symptoms.

As the abscess develops, persistent pain in the peritonsillar area, fever, a general sense of feeling unwell, headache, and a distortion of vowels informally known as "hot potato voice" may appear.

While these signs may be present in tonsillitis itself, a PTA should be specifically considered if there is limited ability to open the mouth (trismus).

PTA usually arises as a complication of an untreated or partially treated episode of acute tonsillitis.

[1] The pus can be removed by a number of methods including needle aspiration, incision and drainage, and tonsillectomy.

For patients with their first peritonsillar abscess most ENT-surgeons prefer to "wait and observe" before recommending tonsillectomy.

[17] Younger children who develop a peritonsillar abscess are often immunocompromised and in them, the infection can cause airway obstruction.

[20] The ancient Roman goddess Angerona was claimed to cure quinsy (Latin angina) in humans and sheep.