RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics in children with peritonsillar infections. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A longitudinal retrospective study was performed through a review of the clinical histories of patients attending the emergency unit in the previous 6 years. The variables gathered were age, sex, recurrent tonsillitis, previous upper airway infection, antibiotic administration, and therapeutic approach. RESULTS: Twenty-nine children were admitted, with a mean age of 7.4 +/- 1.6 years (boys 1.6:1). Twenty-seven percent had recurrent tonsillitis. At the visit, 57.8 % had an upper respiratory infection and 65 % were taking antibiotic treatment, especially macrolides. The treatment selected at our center consisted of the association of penicillin or amoxicillin-clavulanate acid with clindamycin, including corticosteroids. Ten children underwent computed tomography and nine underwent fine-needle aspiration. Drainage was performed in 20.6 % of confirmed abscesses. The mean length of hospital stay was 5.6 +/- 1.6 days. Delayed tonsillectomy was performed in 31 %, except in one patient who developed a parapharyngeal abscess. Currently, 18.9 % of all peritonsillar infections occur in the pediatric population. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in these infections is probably related to inappropriate use of antibiotics in respiratory diseases. Diagnosis is clinical, and infections are often resolved by intravenous administration of beta-lactams with clindamycin and an expectant attitude. When an abscess is suspected or there is no clinical improvement, fine-needle aspiration or computed tomography is warranted and drainage should be performed if an abscess is confirmed. Tonsillectomy, usually delayed, is only indicated in patients with recurrent tonsillitis.