Syndrome differentiation and treatment
The attack of peritonsillar abscess can be divided into early stage, metaphase and late stage which respectively correspond to wind and heat invading the lung, excessive heat of the lung and stomach as well as lingering pathogenic factors due to yin deficiency in syndromes of peritonsillar abscess. At the early stage, pus has not formed yet, so treatment should mainly include dispelling wind and clearing away heat, removing toxin and relieving swelling; at the metaphase, pus has already formed, thus treatment should mainly include clearing away heat and purging fire, draining pus and diminishing swelling; at the late stage, pus has already ulcerated, accordingly treatment should mainly include nourishing yin and strengthening vital qi, clearing way heat and relieving sore throat.

1. Syndrome of wind and heat invading the lung
Main symptoms and signs: Fever, aversion to cold, pharyngodynia worsened by swallowing, marked congestion of the unilateral palatoglossal arch discovered by examination, red tongue with whitish thin or yellowish fur, floating and rapid pulse.
Therapeutic methods: Dispelling wind and clearing away heat, removing toxin and diminishing swelling.

2. Syndrome of excessive heat of the lung and stomach
Main symptoms and signs: Increasingly high fever, severe pharyngodynia with difficulty in swallowing, retention of saliva in the mouth, difficulty in opening the mouth, slurred speech, marked projection of red and swollen upper palatoglossal arch with red swelling of the homolateral soft palate and uvula which cover and push the tonsil downwards discovered by examination, headache, foul breath, thoracic tightness and abdominal distension, constipation, yellowish urine, red tongue with yellowish thick or greasy fur, full and rapid pulse with force.
Therapeutic methods: Clearing away heat and purging fire, removing toxin and diminishing swelling.

3. Syndrome of lingering pathogenic factors due to yin deficiency
Main symptoms and signs: Gradual abatement of fever, relieved pharyngodynia, remittent symptoms of difficulty in opening the mouth and swallowing, remittent red swelling of the upper palatoglossal arch with possible pus drainage discovered in the examination, thirst, yellowish urine, constipation, red tongue with scanty thin fur, thread and rapid pulse.
Therapeutic methods: Nourishing yin and strengthening vital qi, clearing away heat and relieving sore throat.