A spokesman for R&B singer R. Kelly says he will be indefinitely hospitalized after emergency throat surgery.
Allan Mayer, Kelly’s publicist, released a statement that says doctors drained an abscess on one of his tonsils on Tuesday, July 20, at Chicago’s Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
His publicist also says the singer’s recent complaints of throat pain prompted a throat exam. Following the exam, he was rushed to the hospital for the emergency surgery.
A bit about tonsil abscesses:
Peritonsillar abscess
Peritonsillar abscess is a collection of infected material in the area around the tonsils.
Possible Causes:
Peritonsillar abscess is a complication of tonsillitis. It is most often caused by a type of bacteria called group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus.
Peritonsillar abscess is usually a disease of older children, adolescents and young adults. It has become uncommon with the use of antibiotics to treat tonsillitis.
Symptoms:
One or both tonsils become infected. The infection may spread over the roof of the mouth (palate) and to the neck and chest, including the lungs. Swollen tissues may block the airway, which is a life-threatening medical emergency.
The abscess can break open (rupture) into the throat, infecting or further blocking the airway.
Symptoms of peritonsillar abscess include:
Chills
Difficulty opening the mouth, and pain with opening the mouth
Difficulty swallowing
Drooling or inability to swallow saliva
Facial swelling
Fever
Headache
Muffled voice
Sore throat (may be severe and is usually on one side)
Tender glands of the jaw and throat
