What are the potential complications of a peritonsillar abscess that I should be aware of during management?

During the management of a peritonsillar abscess, it is important for an Admin in General Practice to be aware of several potential complications ¹. A significant concern is the risk of airway obstruction, which can be life-threatening [1, (Herzon and Nicklaus, 1996)]. The infection may also spread beyond the tonsillar capsule into adjacent deep neck spaces ¹. This spread can lead to more severe conditions such as a parapharyngeal abscess or even mediastinitis, which is an infection of the chest cavity ¹. Another serious, though less common, complication is internal jugular vein thrombosis, also known as Lemierre's syndrome, which can result from the spread of infection ¹. There is also a risk of aspiration of pus, particularly if the abscess ruptures spontaneously ¹. Furthermore, even after successful initial management, there is a possibility of recurrence of the peritonsillar abscess [1, (Herzon and Nicklaus, 1996)].