March 7, 2020

A 15-year-old male presents to the pediatric ED for worsening sore throat and fevers for 5 days. He complains of right sided throat pain, odynophagia, and a muffled voice. He is tachycardic, febrile, uncomfortable appearing, and sitting upright.  You note trismus, swollen right tonsil, erythematous and elevated soft palate, and uvula deviated towards the left tonsil. What’s the next step in your evaluation and treatment?