Predicting the outcome of peritonsillar abscess in children

Objectives: peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is the most common deep neck infection in children. The causes of its development and recurrence are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive factors of PTA outcome such as recurrent tonsillitis, recurrent/residual PTA and interval tonsillectomy in children. Methodology: retrospective study of surgically confirmed paediatric PTA case series in one medical centre (1997-2007). Anamnestic, clinical and laboratory parameters of primary PTA were compared with recurrent cases. Results: thirteen13 of the 81 enrolled patients (16%) had had PTA previously. Their incidence of trismus and percentage of neutrophils in peripheral blood were lower than in the primary cases. Past history of PTA, a positive pus culture and type of pathogen did not influence outcome. Conclusion: no evaluated factor was found to be definitive for predicting PTA outcome. The clinical presenation of a recurrent PTA may be less severe in appearance than in a primary case.