Why you can't put it off
A peritonsillar abscess is manifested by a sharp one-sided pain in the throat, the inability to open the mouth wide and high temperature - without opening, the pus can spread into the tissue of the neck. An abscess of the nasal septum is dangerous due to the destruction of cartilage and permanent deformation of the nose. The doctor, under local anesthesia, opens the cavity, evacuates the pus and provides drainage; relief occurs almost immediately, after which antibacterial therapy is prescribed.
When you need emergency ENT care
Some ENT conditions cannot be postponed: nosebleeds that do not stop within 15–20 minutes, a foreign body in the nose, ear or throat, a purulent abscess with increasing swelling, a fresh injury to the nose.
Delay here worsens the outcome: blood loss increases, the foreign body moves deeper, the abscess spreads to the surrounding tissue, and the nasal bones fuse in the wrong position after 7–10 days.
What you shouldn't do on your own
- trying to reach a foreign body with tweezers or a cotton swab - it goes deeper
- throw back your head when you have a nosebleed - blood flows down your throat
- warm the abscess area - heat accelerates the spread of pus
- straighten your nose after an injury with your own hands