title: Peritonsillar abscess in children and its indication for tonsillectomy.
abstract: 38 children aged 1-15 years treated for peritonsillar abscess (PTA) between 1976 and 1986 have been reviewed. The patients were divided into those with a history of recurrent tonsillitis prior to developing PTA (T+) (10 patients = 26.3%) and those without such history (T-) (28 patients = 73.4%). 19 patients were surgically drained, 2 abscesses ruptured spontaneously, 2 patients were treated by repeated needle aspirations and 15 patients were treated by medication only. Neither the pre-PTA history (T+ versus T-) nor the mode of treatment during the acute event showed any significant differences in comparing the recurrency rate of PTA or tonsillitis. Therefore, it seems that a single event of PTA among pediatric population should not be considered an indication for tonsillectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Sheba-Medical-Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kronenberg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Modan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leventon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D000039:Peritonsillar Abscess / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013396:Suction; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents