Tonsillitis

Acute tonsillitis is an acute, self-limited infective condition that normally resolves completely within 1 week with no sequelae.[29]Spinks A, Glasziou PP, Del Mar CB. Antibiotics for sore throat. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(11):CD000023. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD000023.pub4/full http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24190439?tool=bestpractice.com

However, some patients may develop recurrent tonsillitis; tonsillectomy may be considered in these cases.

In vulnerable people (e.g., infants, very old, immunosuppressed, or immunocompromised patients), tonsillitis may be more severe. Antibiotics and/or admission to the hospital for a limited period of time may be advisable due to the increased risk of serious infection and complications, especially if the presenting symptoms are severe.

Very rarely (but more commonly in developing countries), acute tonsillitis may be associated with significant suppurative complications, such as neck abscess, and nonsuppurative complications, such as rheumatic fever or acute glomerulonephritis.