Complications of tonsillitis

Complications of tonsillitis occur due to:

• local, lymphogenic or hematogenous spread of infection;
• release of bacterial toxins;
• immunopathological reaction of the organism.

Complications of tonsillitis can be divided into 2 groups:

1. local complications,
2. general complications

Peritonsilar abscess

Local complications

• intratonsillar abscess,
• peritonsillar abscess or phlegmon (the most common complication of tonsillitis),
• parapharyngeal abscess or phlegmon,
• retropharyngeal abscess,
• abscess or phlegmon of the hypopharynx,
• oral phlegmon,
• lymphadenitis with an abscess of the neck.

General complications

• tonsillogenic sepsis,
• thrombosis of cavernous sinus,
• Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS)
• rheumatic fever.

Links

• BENEŠ, Jiří. Studijní materiály [online]. ©2007. [cit. 2009]. <http://jirben2.chytrak.cz/materialy/orl_jb.doc>.
• KLOZAR, Jan, et al. Speciální otorinolaryngologie. 1. vydání. Praha : Galén, 2005. 224 s. ISBN 80-7262-346-X.