CLINICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL STUDY OF ACUTE TONSILLITIS

Abstract

Background: Tonsillitis is inflammation of tonsils, a common clinical condition caused by either bacteria or viral infection. It affects significant percentage of population more so in children. The condition can occur occasionally or recur frequently. Acute tonsillitis is characterized by visible white streaks of pus on tonsils and the surface of the tonsils may become bright red color.

Methods: The study was conducted on patients between 1 to 50 yrs of age of either sex and with history of tonsillitis and   presenting in ENT OPD. A total number of 50 patients were included in the study. The bacteriological work was carried out in the Department of Microbiology.

Results: The bacteriological studies indicated the occurrence of predominant bacteria ?- Haemolytic Streptococci (54.00%), followed by co-agulase positive Staphylococci (12.0%) and Pnemococci (10.00%) and only one case of presence of Corynebacterium diphtheria was observed.

Conclusion: The bacterial infection is more prevalent in the age group of 6-12 years and ?- hemolytic Streptococci to be the most predominant bacteria responsible for tonsillitis infection.

Keywords: Acute tonsillitis, clinical study, bacteriological study.