This paper reports on 115 pediatric patients who were treated for peritonsillar abscess at The Columbus Children's Hospital. Its purpose is to document the threefold increase of peritonsillar abscess between 1969 and 1978, relating this to the simultaneous decrease in the number of tonsillectomies by about one third. The paper further shows that 55 of 115 patients underwent successful treatment by immediate tonsillectomy with lower morbidity and shorter hospital stay when compared with 60 patients treated medically. The timing of the operation will also be discussed. We believe that immediate tonsillectomy is the treatment of choice.
