THE INCREASING INCIDENCE OF HOSPITAL ADMISSION FOR ACUTE TONSILLITIS - A 5-YEAR REVIEW OF THE WELLINGTON EXPERIENCE

Aim. To document the number of admissions with acute tonsillitis over a 5 year period, 1990-4. Method, Information tvas retrieved by retrosp ective case note review, Results, A total of 198 patients were admitte d. The admission rate increased each year from 17 in 1990 to 79 in 199 4, and this was statistically significant. Length of stay, average pat ient age and proportion with glandular fever did not change. The highe st admission rate was in the 16 to 20 years age group. Demography rema ined constant. Conclusion. No explanation for the increase was found, Changes in the microbiology of acute tonsillitis, increasing virulence of the causative organisms and primary care factors are possible expl anations.