The difference between purulent tonsillitis and tonsil ulcers
Disease description:
Half a month ago, I had a sore throat with swollen tonsils, and there was some pus formation. It might have been an ulcer, but I'm not quite sure. Could you please explain the difference between tonsillar pus formation (purulent tonsillitis) and tonsil ulcers?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Xu Gang
Tonsillar abscess and tonsillar ulcer differ in that ulcers erode the surface mucosa, causing pain in patients. Fever is usually mild with ulcers, whereas abscesses result from bacterial infection leading to local inflammation and pain. Abscesses belong to acute suppurative inflammation and have clear causative pathogens, which may include viruses, mycoplasma, or bacteria. Patients can generally use topical medications such as watermelon frost spray locally.
