Open Access

COVID‑19 and peritonsillar abscess co‑infection: A case report

  • Authors:
    • Akihisa Tanaka
    • Shinji Mikami
    • Naomiki Kimura
    • Takashi Nakajima
    • Takao Imai
    • Tadashi Kitahara
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: October 4, 2022     https://doi.org/10.3892/mi.2022.55
  • Article Number: 30
  • Copyright: © Tanaka et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) generally presents with fever, shortness of breath and a sore throat. These symptoms are also common in oral and pharyngeal infections, such as peritonsillar abscess (PA). The present study describes a case of PA and COVID‑19 co‑infection. Although COVID‑19 was initially suspected in the patient due to the presenting symptoms of fever, sore throat, dysgeusia and dysosmia, an oral examination and computed tomography scan detected PA. The patient was conservatively managed with intravenous antibiotics without transoral drainage of the abscess. Anti‑COVID‑19 medication was not administered as the COVID‑19 infection in the patient was not severe. Laboratory findings revealed high levels of leukocytes, C‑reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin. On the whole, the association between laboratory findings (including leukocyte count, CRP and procalcitonin levels) and bacterial co‑infection with COVID‑19 remains unclear, and further studies are warranted. Oral examinations and transoral procedures are often avoided due to the high risk of the aerosolisation of COVID‑19 viral particles. However, an appropriate evaluation is essential in order to avoid the underdiagnosis of life‑threatening bacterial infections that co‑exist with COVID‑19.
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September-October 2022
Volume 2 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 2754-3242
Online ISSN:2754-1304

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Spandidos Publications style
Tanaka A, Mikami S, Kimura N, Nakajima T, Imai T and Kitahara T: COVID‑19 and peritonsillar abscess co‑infection: A case report. Med Int 2: 30, 2022
APA
Tanaka, A., Mikami, S., Kimura, N., Nakajima, T., Imai, T., & Kitahara, T. (2022). COVID‑19 and peritonsillar abscess co‑infection: A case report. Medicine International, 2, 30. https://doi.org/10.3892/mi.2022.55
MLA
Tanaka, A., Mikami, S., Kimura, N., Nakajima, T., Imai, T., Kitahara, T."COVID‑19 and peritonsillar abscess co‑infection: A case report". Medicine International 2.5 (2022): 30.
Chicago
Tanaka, A., Mikami, S., Kimura, N., Nakajima, T., Imai, T., Kitahara, T."COVID‑19 and peritonsillar abscess co‑infection: A case report". Medicine International 2, no. 5 (2022): 30. https://doi.org/10.3892/mi.2022.55