Tonsillitis is the infection of the tonsils, which causes pain and inflammation. Sometimes a pocket of pus may accumulate behind the tonsil called a peritonsillar abscess or ‘quinsy’, requiring drainage.
Recurrent tonsillitis or the occurrence of recurrent abscesses may require tonsillectomy, which is the removal of the tonsils.
Severe infections of the tonsils or extension of a ‘quinsy’ may lead to complications such as a deep neck space infection, or infection of other major structures in the head and neck such as the jugular vein.