HERPES-SIMPLEX INFECTION CAUSING ACUTE NECROTIZING TONSILLITIS

Objective: To describe the clinical and pathologic features of acute h erpetic tonsillitis and to compare the histologic findings with those of herpetic lymphadenitis. Design: We present a case report of a 22-ye ar-old woman with bilateral cervical adenopathy, acute tonsillitis, an d suspected peritonsillar abscess. Material and Methods: Histologic ex amination of the excised tonsils demonstrated discrete necrotic areas that contained cells with intranuclear viral inclusions. Results: The diagnosis of herpetic tonsillitis was confirmed by demonstrating herpe s simplex virus (HSV)-infected cells on paraffin section immunostains and by positive HSV cultures of the tonsillar tissue. Conclusion: HSV infection is an uncommon cause of acute tonsillitis; the histologic fi ndings are similar to those seen in herpes simplex lymphadenitis.