Even when abscesses have been drained, complications can still arise. However, if you're concerned about whether tonsillitis can kill you, you can rest assured that life-threatening cases of tonsillitis tend to be rare.

Can tonsillitis cause death?

Tonsillitis, with associated tonsillar hypertrophy, is a common disease of childhood, yet it is rarely associated with sudden death due to airway obstruction. Lethal complications involving the inflamed tonsils include haemorrhage, retropharyngeal abscess and disseminated sepsis.

Can you die from tonsillitis if not treated?

Untreated or incompletely treated tonsillitis can lead to potentially life-threatening complications. Acute oropharyngeal infections can spread distally to the deep neck spaces and then into the mediastinum. Such complications may require thoracotomy and cervical exposure for drainage.