title: [Management of peritonsillar infections].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics in children with peritonsillar infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal retrospective study was performed through a review of the clinical histories of patients attending the emergency unit in the previous 6 years. The variables gathered were age, sex, recurrent tonsillitis, previous upper airway infection, antibiotic administration, and therapeutic approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-nine children were admitted, with a mean age of 7.4 +/- 1.6 years (boys 1.6:1). Twenty-seven percent had recurrent tonsillitis. At the visit, 57.8 % had an upper respiratory infection and 65 % were taking antibiotic treatment, especially macrolides. The treatment selected at our center consisted of the association of penicillin or amoxicillin-clavulanate acid with clindamycin, including corticosteroids. Ten children underwent computed tomography and nine underwent fine-needle aspiration. Drainage was performed in 20.6 % of confirmed abscesses. The mean length of hospital stay was 5.6 +/- 1.6 days. Delayed tonsillectomy was performed in 31 %, except in one patient who developed a parapharyngeal abscess. Currently, 18.9 % of all peritonsillar infections occur in the pediatric population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increase in these infections is probably related to inappropriate use of antibiotics in respiratory diseases. Diagnosis is clinical, and infections are often resolved by intravenous administration of beta-lactams with clindamycin and an expectant attitude. When an abscess is suspected or there is no clinical improvement, fine-needle aspiration or computed tomography is warranted and drainage should be performed if an abscess is confirmed. Tonsillectomy, usually delayed, is only indicated in patients with recurrent tonsillitis.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Universidad de Valencia, España. jgarciacall@hotmail.com
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: García Callejo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Núñez Gómez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sala Franco
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marco Algarra
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000039:Peritonsillar Abscess / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents