Tonsillitis Index, recommendation for tonsillectomy in recurrent/chronic tonsillitis

A prospective study was conducted on 57 patients. The aim of this study is to find outthe concept of Tonsillitis Index as a clinical decision-making as a guide and indicator torecommend tonsillectomy in patients with recurrent/chronic tonsillitis.Data were collected, including the disease history data, based on the evaluation of theseverity of the recurrent tonsillitis and length of morbidity period. Microbiology reportsof tonsillar surface swabs, tonsil core specimens and blood culture reports werecollected. (Tonsillitis Index) to investigate whether there is a relationship between thedisease history of recurrent /chronic tonsillitis and the macroscopic signs of scleroticprocess in tonsils were evaluated. The statistical analysis of the study showed goodcorrelation between tonsillitis Index score >25 and sclerotic tonsils. Being sensitive in92.31%, specificity in 77.4% and positive likely hood ration of 4.00 and positivepredictive value of 77.42%. The findings suggest that when the tonsils have deterioratedfunctionally and when the Tonsillitis Index score >35, the tonsils have deterioratedimmunologically and the chance for resolution of recurrent / chronic infection is lesslikely to occur. Hence tonsillectomy is an appropriate surgical option.