BACKGROUND Despite high rates of (adeno)tonsillectomy for upper respiratory infections in western countries, the medical literature offers the physician little support in deciding which child might benefit from the operation. METHODS A literature search was performed to identify randomised trials and non-randomised controlled studies into the efficacy of tonsillectomy with or without adenoide...

The prevention of the first attack of RF requires antibiotic treatment of suspected or proven streptococcal throat infection or tonsillitis in children between the ages of 3 and 15 years. In communities where RF is endemic, all cases of sore throat in children 3 15 years of age should be regarded as a streptococcal infection and be treated as such unless any one of the following clinical charac...

OBJECTIVE Viral agents cause the majority of sore throats. However, there is not currently a score to diagnose viral sore throat. The aims of this study were (i) to find the rate of bacterial and viral causes, (ii) to show the seasonal variations and (iii) to form a new scoring system to diagnose viral sore throat. METHODS A throat culture for group A beta haemolytic streptococci (GABHS) and ...

BACKGROUND One small study suggests that gargling with licorice before induction of anesthesia reduces the risk of postoperative sore throat. Double-lumen tubes are large and thus especially likely to provoke sore throats. We therefore tested the hypothesis that preoperative gargling with licorice solution prevents postoperative sore throat and postextubation coughing in patients intubated with...

PURPOSE Sore throat is a frequent reason for seeking medical care but few prescription options are available. Lozenges are effective in delivering active ingredients to the throat. This study was conducted to determine the analgesic efficacy of two lozenges one containing amylmetacresol (AMC)/2,4-dichlorobenzyl alcohol (DCBA) and lidocaine and one containing hexylresorcinol  versus placebo in ...

To estimate the benefits of treatments other than antibiotics for acute sore throat, and the differences between non-antibiotic interventions and controls in patient-perceived pain of sore throat, a systematic review of controlled trials in Medline and the Cochrane Library was carried out. Sixty-six randomised controlled trials (with or without additional antibiotics) were identified and 17 met...

Henry K. aet. 39 years, was first seen as a case of purpura. The history he gave was that he had been perfectly well until two months ago, when he contracted a sore throat followed by a cough. The sore throat subsided after three weeks, but was almost immediately followed by a second sore throat. A month ago he developed "boils" on his face, neck and left arm. For the past six to seven weeks he...