Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-qsmjn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-24T06:26:44.223Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Peritonsillar abscess: epidemiology and relationship with climate variations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 May 2017

G S M Freire ,
J H Z dos Santos ,
P A Rolón ,
G B Pinheiro  and
A L L Sampaio
G S M Freire*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitário de Brasília, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
J H Z dos Santos
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitário de Brasília, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
P A Rolón
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Regional da Asa Norte, Brasília, Brazil
G B Pinheiro
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal, Brasília, Brazil
A L L Sampaio
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitário de Brasília, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Gustavo Subtil Magalhães Freire, SGAN 605, Avenida L2 Norte, 70830-200 Brasília, DF, Brazil Fax: +55 61 2028 5580 E-mail: gustavosmf@gmail.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background:

Peritonsillar abscess is the most common deep infection of the head and neck in young adults. It is considered a purulent complication of acute tonsillitis, but other mechanisms have been proposed. There is no consensus as to whether seasonality affects peritonsillar abscess incidence.

Methods:

This observational, descriptive, retrospective study explored the epidemiology of peritonsillar abscess and its relationship with seasonality. The cases were selected from the emergency otolaryngology service of a tertiary hospital.

Results:

The sample comprised 528 patients (42.61 per cent males, mean age = 26.63 years). A moderate positive correlation was found between peritonsillar abscess incidence and monthly average temperature. No associations were found with insolation, precipitation or humidity.

Conclusion:

In this sample, peritonsillar abscess was more likely to occur in warmer months. The findings corroborate the theory that peritonsillar abscess is not a direct complication of acute tonsillitis and may improve understanding of peritonsillar abscess aetiology.

Keywords

Peritonsillar AbscessTonsillitisWeatherEpidemiology
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 131 , Issue 7 , July 2017 , pp. 627 - 630
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Mazur, E, Czerwinska, E, Korona Glowniak, I, Grochowalska, A, Koziol-Montewka, M. Epidemiology, clinical history and microbiology of peritonsillar abscess. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2015;34:549–54Google Scholar
2 Petruzzelli, GJ, Johnson, JT. Peritonsillar abscess. Why aggressive management is appropriate. Postgrad Med 1990;88:99–100,103–5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3 Galioto, NJ. Peritonsillar abscess. Am Fam Physician 2008;77:199–202 Google ScholarPubMed
4 Segal, N, El-Saied, S, Puterman, M. Peritonsillar abscess in children in the southern district of Israel. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2009;73:1148–50Google Scholar
5 Marom, T, Cinamon, U, Itskoviz, D, Roth, Y. Changing trends of peritonsillar abscess. Am J Otolaryngol 2010;31:162–7Google Scholar
6 Ong, YK, Goh, YH, Lee, YL. Peritonsillar infections: local experience. Singapore Med J 2004;45:105–9Google ScholarPubMed
7 Klug, TE. Incidence and microbiology of peritonsillar abscess: the influence of season, age, and gender. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2014;33:1163–7Google Scholar
8 Kordeluk, S, Novack, L, Puterman, M, Kraus, M, Joshua, BZ. Relation between peritonsillar infection and acute tonsillitis: myth or reality? Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2011;145:940–5Google Scholar
9 Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Censo Demográfico 2010. Population and household characteristics: results for the sample universe. In: http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/populacao/censo2010/ [10 January 2017]Google Scholar
10 Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia. Climatological Graph, Federal District, 2007–2011. In: http://www.inmet.gov.br/portal/index.php?r=clima/normaisClimatologicas [10 January 2017]Google Scholar