Uncommon etiologies of infectious tonsillitis in adults

Background Bacteria of the genus Actinomyces that colonize the oral cavity rarely cause infection. Fifty-percent of the cases of actinomycosis are in the cervicofacial area, more common in male patients and in infants. In most of cases, the onset of the disease occurs on the teeth or tonsils. Early diagnosis of cervicofacial actinomycosis has been reported in less than 10% of cases. The aim of this report is to emphasize less common etiologies in the diagnosis of adult patients with recurrent tonsillitis.