The association between periodontal disease and peritonsillar infection: A prospective study

  • Christos Georgalas
  • , Jeeve Kanagalingam
  • , Azida Zainal
  • , Hamid Ahmed
  • , Arvind Singh
  • , Kalpesh S. Patel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between periodontal status and peritonsillar disease/recurrent tonsillitis. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A total of 158 patients presenting over a 3-year period with peritonsillar abscess (PTA) confirmed by needle aspiration and a control group of 112 patients booked for elective tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis (RT) were examined in terms of their periodontal status using the WHO Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN). RESULTS: The mean CPITN index was 2.81 (Standard Deviation (SD), 1.10) in patients with PTA and 1.41 (SD, 0.92) in patients with RT. One hundred seven of 158 patients with PTA had significant periodontal pathology (CPITN, 3 or 4) compared with 12 of 112 patients with RT. These differences were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Patients with peritonsillar abscess had an increased prevalence of periodontal disease as compared with patients with recurrent tonsillitis. SIGNIFICANCE: There is a need to further explore this correlation and determine its nature, although it could be the result of common pathogenic factors, a causal relation cannot be excluded.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)91-94
Number of pages4
JournalOtolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Volume126
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2002
Externally publishedYes

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