Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of quinsy can include:

• a severe and quickly worsening sore throat , usually on one side
• swelling inside the mouth and throat
• difficulty opening your mouth
• pain when swallowing
• difficulty swallowing, which may cause you to drool
• changes to your voice or difficulty speaking
• bad breath
• earache on the affected side
• headache and feeling generally unwell
• difficulty breathing

Some people with quinsy may also have a high temperature (fever), although this sometimes passesbefore theabscess develops.