[Present-day aspects of tonsillar problems].

The analysis of 1247 case histories of chronic tonsillitis and peritonsillar abscesses of tonsillogenic origin has shown that annual number of tonsillectomies for chronic tonsillitis is decreasing while the number of patients with peritonsillar abscesses is going up. The tendency is explained by several factors, among them overestimation of the efficacy reached with conservative therapy of chronic tonsillitis. The authors promote wider use of tonsillectomy as an effective preventive tool for peritonsillar abscesses. The latter should be more frequently managed with abscess tonsillectomy.