What can happen if tonsillitis is not effectively treated?
Tonsillitis can lead to a very severe condition called a peritonsillar abscess. An abscess is a collection of pus caused by tissue death and breakdown of the white blood cells fighting the infection. The swelling from an abscess can be so great that it blocks the airway and interferes with breathing. The infection can also spread out of the tonsil and into the neck and chest, which can be rapidly fatal. *For these reasons it is important that tonsillitis be treated under the guidance of a health care professional.
