Lots of kids get tonsillitis (an infection of the tonsils),
especially younger kids. As kids get older, however, this throat
infection can be accompanied by an unpleasant condition called a
peritonsillar abscess. A peritonsillar abscess is an area of
pus-filled tissue at the back of the mouth, next to one of the
tonsils. The abscess can be very painful and make it difficult
to open the mouth. It can also cause swelling that can displace
the tonsil and push it toward the uvula (the dangling fleshy
object at the back of the mouth). This can block the throat,
making it difficult to swallow, speak, and sometimes even
breathe. An untreated peritonsillar abscess can lead to a spread
of the infection into the neck and chest, as well as other
serious complications. Peritonsillar abscesses are most often
caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococci bacteria, which
also cause strep throat. Sometimes other types of bacteria are
also involved. Peritonsillar abscesses usually happen as a
complication of tonsillitis, when