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Eur J Gen Pract 2022 Dec;28(1):142-149

Department of Family Medicine and Siaal Research Center for Family Medicine and Primary Care, The Haim Doron Division of Community Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.

Background: Acute upper respiratory infections are the most common reason for primary physician visits in the community. This study investigated whether the type of antibiotic used to treat streptococcal tonsillitis can reduce the burden by affecting the number of additional visits.

Objectives: To assess the effect of different antibiotic treatments for tonsillitis on the number of additional primary physician visits and the development of infectious or inflammatory sequels. Read More

Infect Drug Resist 2022 31;15:2763-2771. Epub 2022 May 31.

Department of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Aichi Medical University Hospital, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan.

Although is a commensal microorganism of the oral cavity, it may sometimes cause severe systemic infections. We report a case of Lemierre syndrome (LS), which developed after infection, in a 73-year-old Japanese woman who was admitted to the hospital for throat pain, neck swelling, and fever for 3 days. She had a 3-month history of neglected dental caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2022 Jun 6;15(6). Epub 2022 Jun 6.

Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ENT), AIIMS, Raipur, CG, India

Peritonsillar abscess is a common presentation of complicated acute tonsillitis. The temporomandibular joint septic arthritis is an uncommon clinical entity while its complications are further rare. We present a case of a man in his late 30s who presented with a painful swelling in the left preauricular region along with increasing trismus. Read More

HNO 2022 Jun 3. Epub 2022 Jun 3.

Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie, Universitätsklinik Ulm, Frauensteige 12, 89075, Ulm, Deutschland.

Background: The incidence of acute ear, nose, and throat (ENT) diagnoses is influenced by multiple parameters, for example meteorological and seasonal influences. By better understanding the triggering factors, prophylactic approaches can be developed.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed over 6 years of all patients who presented to the university hospital because of typical and minor ENT emergencies. Read More

Medicina (Kaunas) 2022 Apr 25;58(5). Epub 2022 Apr 25.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany.

Tonsillar infections are a common reason to see a physician and lead to a reduction in the patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). HRQoL may be an important criterion in decision science and should be taken into account when deciding when to perform tonsillectomy, especially for chronic tonsillitis. The aim of this study was to determine the health utility for different states of tonsillar infections. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2022 May 27;101(21):e29469. Epub 2022 May 27.

Department of Emergency and Internal Medicine, Saitama Citizens Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.

Rationale: Since late 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) had rapidly spread worldwide, resulting in a pandemic. Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have difficulty in visiting clinics in person during pandemic because they might be encouraged to quarantine at home with supportive care. Peritonsillar abscess rarely coexists with COVID-19; however, patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection could get co-infections or become superinfected with other microorganisms which could cause peritonsillar abscess. Read More

Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2022 May;57(5):629-631

Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao University, Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Otorhinolaryngologic Disease, Yantai 264000, China.

Cureus 2022 Feb 16;14(2):e22271. Epub 2022 Feb 16.

Internal Medicine, Comprehensive Care Group of South Florida, Plantation, USA.

Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is a common deep tissue infection of the head and neck. In the literature, most cases demonstrate PTA following acute tonsillitis; however, less documented are cases arising in post-tonsillectomy patients. Here, we report a 45-year-old woman with a history of tonsillectomy 16 years prior, who presented to the emergency department with signs and symptoms consistent with PTA, including sore throat and the presence of a right-sided abscess in the posterolateral oropharynx with apparent pus. Read More

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2022 05 17;279(5):2713-2716. Epub 2022 Mar 17.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan, 528400, Guangdong, China.

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2022 Feb 26. Epub 2022 Feb 26.

AOK Research Institute, Berlin, Germany.

Purpose: To longitudinally evaluate the impact of the COVID-19-pandemic on the incidence of inpatient tonsil surgery and outpatient primary care of sore throat in Germany.

Methods: A retrospective interrupted time-series analysis was conducted. The national database of the Hospital Remuneration System was used to retrieve the number of operations performed between January 2019 and September 2021 including elective and non-elective cases with the exception of malign diseases. Read More

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2022 May 15;279(5):2245-2257. Epub 2022 Feb 15.

1st Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, AHEPA University General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Kiriakidi 1, 546 21, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Objectives: Peritonsillar abscess is a common complication of acute tonsillitis. However, no consensus has been reached yet on the optimal treatment of this condition. Therefore, this study aimed to compare clinical outcomes of immediate and interval abscess tonsillectomy. Read More

Anaerobe 2022 Jun 2;75:102532. Epub 2022 Feb 2.

Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.

F. necrophorum, a gram-negative obligate anaerobe, causes pharyngotonsillitis, peritonsillar abscess and the Lemierre Syndrome as well as other significant infections. Clinical information on this bacterium has increased dramatically over the past 20 years, yet no standard guidance exists for treating these infections. Read More

Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2022 Jan;57(1):62-64

Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130033, China.

Acta Otolaryngol 2022 Feb 24;142(2):182-186. Epub 2022 Jan 24.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

Background: Peritonsillitis (PT) is defined as cellulitis in peritonsillar tissue without pus. The pathogenesis of peritonsillar infections is controversial.

Objective: To explore whether minor salivary glands are involved in the development of PT and to identify clinical findings that predict the evolution of PT to peritonsillar abscess (PTA). Read More

Arch Pediatr 2022 Feb 23;29(2):128-132. Epub 2021 Dec 23.

Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Arnaud de Villeneuve, University of Montpellier, France; Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic Infections, INSERM, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to describe clinical presentations, bacteriological results, and therapeutic management in a pediatric population presenting with acute pharyngeal suppuration. A further aim was to identify clinical, bacteriological, and radiological predictors of success associated with exclusive medical treatment.

Method: A retrospective study was carried out including patients under 18 years of age hospitalized between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2017 in our center for acute pharyngeal suppuration. Read More

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2022 02 16;43(2):286-291. Epub 2021 Dec 16.

From the Departments of Radiology (J. Heikkinen, J.N., T.H., M.N., K.M., J. Hirvonen)

Background And Purpose: Previous literature is vague on the prevalence and exact nature of abscesses in tonsillar infections, ranging from intratonsillar and peritonsillar collections to deep extension involving the parapharyngeal and retropharyngeal spaces. MR imaging has excellent diagnostic accuracy in detecting neck infections and can potentially clarify this issue. We sought to characterize the spectrum of MR imaging findings regarding tonsillar infections. Read More

Am J Emerg Med 2021 Dec 25;50:739-743. Epub 2021 Sep 25.

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, USA.

Objective: The goal of this study was to determine if computed tomography (CT) added any clinical information that was incorporated into the decision regarding treatment for patients who presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with sore throat.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of adult patients who presented to the ED with a chief complaint of sore throat who subsequently underwent CT during that ED visit between 1/1/18 and 12/31/18 at our tertiary academic health center was performed. The association between palatal bulge on Otolaryngology physical exam with successful drainage procedure was examined. Read More

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2022 May 22;279(5):2671-2678. Epub 2021 Nov 22.

Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Doncaster, UK.

Purpose: To report changes in adult hospital admission rates for acute ENT infections following the introduction of COVID-19-related physical interventions such as hand washing, use of face masks and social distancing of 2-m in the United Kingdom.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study comparing adult admissions with acute tonsillitis, peritonsillar abscess, epiglottitis, glandular fever, peri-orbital cellulitis, acute otitis media, acute mastoiditis, retropharyngeal abscess and parapharyngeal abscess in the 1-year period after the introduction of COVID-related physical interventions (2020-2021) with a 1-year period before this (2019-2020) in three UK secondary care ENT departments.

Results: In total, there were significantly fewer admissions for ENT infections (n = 1073, 57. Read More

J Periodontol 2022 05 19;93(5):721-731. Epub 2022 Jan 19.

Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.

Background: To determine whether patients who had undergone tonsillectomy would have higher risks of postoperative periodontitis.

Methods: Data were collected from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Dataset from 1999 to 2013, a population-based cohort study consisting of cases of newly-onset sleep apnoea, chronic diseases of tonsils and adenoids, peritonsillar abscess, and periodontal diseases. A total of 1482 tonsillectomy cases and 14,796 non-tonsillectomy controls were selected. Read More

N Z Med J 2021 10 22;134(1544):179-182. Epub 2021 Oct 22.

Lead Antimicrobial Stewardship Pharmacist, Infectious Disease, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.

Cureus 2021 Aug 29;13(8):e17546. Epub 2021 Aug 29.

Emergency Medicine, Envision Physician Services, Plantation, USA.

The authors present a case of an adolescent female who presented to the emergency department with a second case of tonsillitis in the span of two weeks. The patient recovered after treatment with a broader-spectrum antibiotic and was discharged home. The authors highlight the importance of weighing the costs and benefits of tonsillectomy with the potential that additional antibiotics may be enough in cases of recurrent tonsillitis. Read More

Ir J Med Sci 2021 Oct 6. Epub 2021 Oct 6.

2nd Otolaryngology Department, School of Medicine, "Attikon" University Hospital, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Rimini 1 Chaidari, 124 62, Athens, Greece.

Background: Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is the most common deep neck infection, occurring as a consequence of bacterial acute tonsillitis or as a result of infection of the Weber glands, with frequent and life-threatening complications.

Aim: To investigate several factors associated with complications and worse prognosis, such as defining the method of surgical drainage and treatment of a PTA which remains an area of controversy in the literature METHODS: The purpose of this retrospective study is to examine the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory findings of 601 adult patients and to discuss them along with their treatment plan.

Results: Pharyngalgia was the most common reported symptom, followed by trismus, odynophagia, fever, hot potato voice, malaise, and cervical lymphadenopathy. Read More

Rev Med Suisse 2021 Oct;17(753):1690-1693

Service d'otorhinolaryngologie et chirurgie maxillofaciale, CHUV, 1011 Lausanne.

Acute tonsillitis is a common disease. The tonsillar infection can be uni- or bilateral with a high rate of spontaneous recovery. In some cases, a peritonsillar cellulitis or abscess can occur, characterized by an inflammatory reaction of the peritonsillar space. Read More

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2021 Nov 20;150:110893. Epub 2021 Aug 20.

Children's Hospital of Orange County, Department of Otolaryngology, Orange, CA, USA.

Background: Neck-related chief complaints are common in the pediatric Emergency Department (ED), and although the incidence of pathology such as retropharyngeal abscesses is rare, the ability to rule out abscesses requiring surgical/procedural intervention is essential. However, there are no clear clinical guidelines regarding work-up and diagnosis in this population, possibly contributing to an excess use of potentially harmful and costly computed tomography (CT) imaging.

Objective: In this study we sought to identify historical, physical exam, and laboratory findings associated with surgically significant neck abscesses to better delineate CT neck imaging criteria. Read More

ANZ J Surg 2021 12 13;91(12):2726-2730. Epub 2021 Sep 13.

Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Unit, Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate whether changes in practice during the COVID-19 pandemic altered clinical presentation characteristics among adults with bacterial throat infections.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted that included adult patients presenting with bacterial oropharyngeal infections to a tertiary level hospital in Melbourne, Australia. All patients presenting during the first phase of COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne (1st April- 1st July in 2020), and those from the same period 12-months prior, were included. Read More

Emerg Med J 2021 Sep;38(9):730-732

Emergency Medicine, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, San Francisco, California, USA.

Clin Otolaryngol 2021 11 24;46(6):1362-1367. Epub 2021 Aug 24.

Mersey ENT Research Collaborative, Liverpool, UK.

Objectives: Anecdotal evidence suggests that oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) should be suspected in patients presenting with symptoms of peritonsillar abscess (PTA) or cellulitis (PTC). The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of OPSCC in patients presenting with symptoms of PTA/PTC.

Method, Setting And Participants: We retrospectively identified all adults with a coded diagnosis of PTA or PTC who presented between 2012 and 2016 inclusive, across six ENT units in Merseyside. Read More

Acta Otolaryngol 2021 Sep 15;141(9):847-850. Epub 2021 Aug 15.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden.

Background: A peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is a common complication to acute tonsillitis. Needle aspiration (NA) is the gold standard for diagnosis of PTA. NA is usually painful and not risk-free. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 08 4;11(1):15855. Epub 2021 Aug 4.

Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.

Polyols are effective against caries-causing streptococci but the effect on oropharynx-derived pyogenic streptococci is not well characterised. We aimed to study the effect of erythritol (ERY) and xylitol (XYL) against Streptococcus pyogenes isolated from peritonsillar abscesses (PTA). We used 31 clinical isolates and 5 throat culture collection strains. Read More

Am J Otolaryngol 2021 Sep-Oct;42(5):102771. Epub 2020 Nov 10.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sion Hospital, Switzerland. Electronic address: