Any ENT on here? This isn’t quinsy is it?

[ByPeppyGreenOP]

Sorry for closeup throat pic but my DD (5) is being treated for tonsillitis (started ABs yesterday afternoon) but she has what looks like a lump behind one of them. Is this normal for tonsillitis? Never dealt with tonsil problems before!
For context, she can eat and drink okay but says her throat is sore and hurts a bit to swallow. We’re on day 4 of her temp rising to 40 once Calpol and nurofen wear off. She sounds muffled too. TIA

Still waiting for the photo to load!

could it perhaps be an abscess behind one tonsil?

Quinsy would be agony, struggling to swallow saliva. So eating and drinking ok would suggest it’s not that. But the picture isn’t showing and I’m not a medic……

Thanks. Still waiting for pics to be approved by MN

Not sure if the pics are particularly clear, but behind the left tonsil is another lump, which is what the uvula seems to be sticking to...

Go and get her looked at - better to be safe. I had quinsy and could eat and drink, provided I took paracetamol and ibuprofen to the max (I was at a work event that I absolutely couldn't miss when it came on). But I gradually began to feel worse and worse, and at the end, took myself to A&E. I didn't have access to ibuprofen during the wait there, and all of a sudden I lost the ability to swallow (even saliva). As soon as I said that they rushed me in and lanced it.

I would ask mumsnet to take these pictures down.

When DS (older than your DD) had quinsy the tonsils were touching at the back and he could not swallow his own saliva.

The swallowing the salvia was the thing the GP gave as a symptom that would trigger A&E. He was rushed through triage and admitted.

It moves quickly but he was very very very unwell and it was clearly more than tonsillitis (which he had recurring for years) but I think if DD is eating and drinking she has tonsilitis-which is rubbish but at this point seems under control.

It's rotten though-good luck

edited to say-I am not a doctor and just sharing my own experience in the hope that it reassures

Why?

Can I ask how long had you felt unwell for before you ended up in A&E?

She's been poorly since Sat am and seen a dr twice in that time, so I'm not sure how long to give it before pestering them again...but also don't really want to play wait and see in case it is quinsy IYSWIM.

I haven’t had quinsy but I know somebody who has and they were in agonising pain. They also had large white pustules all over their tonsils. I hope it isn’t that and your description does sound like “just” tonsillitis. Poor kid

I think I understand why and appreciate the concern. Right now the benefit of reassurance/advice outweighs that risk so will remove them once shortly

I was at a 6 day event - I felt tonsilly on the first day and developed an awful fever that evening so went to an out of hours doctor and got antibiotics. It got better for about a day then it started to return with a vengeance. I'd say I felt unwell for 3 days but really unwell for the last day ie counting down the minutes till I could have more anti inflammatories and having that' oh god, I'm really poorly - as soon as I can leave I'm heading to A&E' feeling. I'd say just go, but to a different doctor this time. Better to be safe than trying to get to A&E at night.

Huh??

Thank you - will speak to GP again tomorrow

Definitely get this checked out - my son had a peritonsilar abscess at a very young age which they first believed to be quinsy as he couldn’t swallow saliva, let alone medication or milk.

A peritonsillar abscess is the medical name for quinsy. However you describe it, it's really unpleasant to have, though!

I had quinsy aged 15 and I felt very panicky because I couldn’t swallow and felt like I couldn’t breathe (I could but I was panicking) does she feel like that? It was possibly the worst thing that’s ever happened to me so I really hope it isn’t that. Can you get in with a GP? If it is and they want to drain it then pretty please advocate for her and ask for numbing sprays / creams before any needles (I can still remember how awful this was and my Mum and Dad were old school and I had to just get on with it, there’s no need for it to be as barbaric as it was).

Best wishes for your little one x

It’s quite difficult to get her to articulate what she’s feeling (she’s also been fairly constantly dosed up on painkillers to keep her temp below 39) but I can hear in her voice that there is some restriction. We managed to get her seen today and they reassured that it’s likely not quinsy, “just” a particularly nasty swollen tonsil. Day 3 of ABs today’s hopefully she starts feeling better soon…🤞🏻

Thanks for your best wishes!

Bless her, my daughter (8) suffered horrendously with her tonsils (I’m convinced it could be hereditary!) our GP was very good and ordered an overnight sleep study and it was affecting her oxygen levels through the night and she eventually had them removed. Please be a bit pushy if you have to be about this x