Tonsillitis in the paediatric outpatient.

A study of tonsillitis in paediatric outpatients was carried out. In this group the aetiology is multifactorial and is clearly associated with sinusitis and nasal allergy. No features of the history or examination were reliable in differentiating between bacterial and viral infection. Lancefield Group A beta-haemolytic streptococci were isolated from the throat swabs of one-third of the patients, bacteria being isolated from half of the cases altogether. The use of an antibiotic before the results of throat swab culture are available appears to be justified. It is suggested that sinusitis and nasal allergy be excluded before tonsillectomy is considered.