Medically Reviewed by Dr Aifric Boylan
Last updated on 19.06.2023
What is Quinsy?
- Quinsy occurs when an abscess forms at the top of one of the tonsils
- An abscess is a collection (or bag) of pus
- The tonsils are the 2 lumps you can see in your throat when you open your mouth wide
- They sit in the bottom corners at the back (behind your tongue)
- They are either side of the dangly “uvula” which hangs from the top
What are the symptoms of Quinsy?
- Worsening sore throat
- Feeling unwell
- Significant difficulty swallowing
- Smelly breath
- Usually a fever (high temperature)
- Usually the glands are up in your neck
- Sometimes earache
- Sometimes difficulty opening the mouth wide
- Sometimes it causes you to speak with a strange voice, sounding like you have a golf ball in your mouth
What does Quinsy look like?
- The tonsil that has the abscess will look large, often pushing the uvula (which normally dangles in the middle) off to one side
- The uvula itself may look swollen
- Your mouth may look “yucky” or unclean
Who gets Quinsy?
- Quinsy starts during tonsillitis
- It’s commoner in people who get tonsillitis recurrently
- It happens to between 1 and 4 in 10,000 people per year
- Tonsillitis is when your tonsils become swollen, inflamed and painful
- This is usually caused by bacteria or viruses
- People with tonsillitis can therefore progress to developing quinsy
- Anybody can develop quinsy. Certain people are more likely to get it:
What causes Quinsy?
- Bacteria responsible for tonsillitis (usually Streptococcus or Haemophilus species) form an abscess on a tonsil
- It’s not known why this happens
What is the treatment for Quinsy?
- You need to go to hospital urgently, as it’s important that quinsy is treated before it affects your breathing
- Antibiotics given intravenously (in a drip, usually into your arm)
- You’ll usually be given intravenous fluids as well (for dehydration)
- Sometimes steroids are given – these have been shown to help
- The abscess will usually be drained by a doctor, using a scalpel (sharp surgical knife) or a needle
- Usually the area is numbed first using a spray
- Some people have a general anaesthetic for this (surgery after being put to sleep)
Can I die of Quinsy?
- Yes, though this extremely rare if you are treated in hospital
- Outcomes are usually excellent if the right treatments are given
What’s the prognosis for Quinsy?
- Outcomes are generally very good
- You usually need to have your tonsils surgically removed (tonsillectomy) a few weeks after you’ve recovered to prevent it from happening again
Article Resources
Inguinal hernia
Inguinal hernia A hernia is a bulge or protrusion through a weakness or an opening. An inguinal hernia is one that occurs in the groin where the abdomen meets [...]
Anogenital warts
Anogenital warts What are anogenital warts? Anogenital warts are caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and can affect the anus and the genitals. There are over 150 types of [...]
ACL injuries & tears
ACL injuries & tears The knee has two ligaments inside the joint, that stabilise it when we are moving forwards or backwards. These are called the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments. The anterior cruciate [...]
What is a fractured penis?
What is a fractured penis? Although the penis doesn’t have a bone in it, it can be fractured! A fractured penis occurs when the spongy tissue that swells during [...]
Could your home be causing asthma and allergies?
Could your home be causing your Asthma? Overview Our homes are not just a roof over our heads- they play a key role in our health, particularly when it [...]
How to fix an ingrown toenail
How to get rid of an ingrown toenail What is an ingrown toenail? Ingrown toenail is an extremely common condition which occurs when the inner or outer side of [...]
