Etiological issues of chronic tonsillitis

Abstract

Chronic tonsillitis is characterized by the inflammatory process of infectious genesis, however, a specific pathogen has not been identified yet. Publications that continue to appear contain new information about the spectrum of microflora in the tonsils. This review presents the most interesting of them. The etiological significance of any single microorganism or an association of several ones in the development of chronic tonsillitis is still under discussion. Of interest is the abundance of microorganism species that represent all three kingdoms of microbes and accompany chronic inflammation and hypertrophy of the tonsils. In addition, information is available about disturbance of the barrier function of the immune system in this disease. A question is debated whether the development of chronic tonsillitis is initiated primarily by the pathogenic activity of microflora or by the initial weakening of the immune defense. This leads to difficulties in the diagnosis required to make a decision on the choice of treatment.