Tonsillitis

Question 1

What are the features of acute tonsillitis?

Answer 1

pharyngitis, fever, malaise and lymphadenopathy.
tonsils are typically oedematous and yellow or white pustules may be present

Question 2

What is the most common causative organism to Tonsillitis?

Answer 2

Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria

Question 3

What is the treatment for common tonsillitis?

Answer 3

penicillin type antibiotics

Question 4

What are the complications of tonsillitis?

Answer 4

otitis media
quinsy - peritonsillar abscess
rheumatic fever and glomerulonephritis very rarely

Question 5

What are the indications for tonsillectomy?

Answer 5

NICE recommend that surgery should be considered only if the person meets all of the following criteria
sore throats are due to tonsillitis (i.e. not recurrent upper respiratory tract infections)
the person has five or more episodes of sore throat per year
symptoms have been occurring for at least a year
the episodes of sore throat are disabling and prevent normal functioning

Question 6

What are the complications of tonsillectomy?

Answer 6

primary (< 24 hours): haemorrhage in 2-3% (most commonly due to inadequate haemostasis), pain
secondary (24 hours to 10 days): haemorrhage (most commonly due to infection), pain