Tonsillectomy and tonsillitis in Cape Town - age and sex of patients

Objectives. To assess the sex and age of patients undergoing tonsillectomy in the Cape Town metropolitan area. Methodology. A retrospective audit was conducted from 1991 to 1995 comparin g the sex and age of patients undergoing tonsillectomy with patients admitt ed to hospital for acute tonsillitis and the general population. Results. A total of 7 250 tonsillectomies were performed for recurrent tons illitis, and III adult patients were admitted with acute tonsillitis. When the data for the adult tonsillectomy patients were isolated, the female/mal e ratio was 3.22:1, which is highly significant when compared with the data for the general population (Cornfield's 95% confidence limit: 2.82, 3.68) and for patients with acute tonsillitis (Cornfield's 95% confidence limit: 1.14, 2.65). Conclusion. Recurrent tonsillitis requiring tonsillectomy occurs more commo nly in female than male patients.