CLINICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF CHRONIC TONSILLITIS AND ITS IMPACT ON UPPER RESPIRATORY HEALTH
Keywords:
chronic tonsillitis, ENT diseases, upper respiratory tract, inflammation, microbiology, tonsillar infectionAbstract
Chronic tonsillitis is one of the most common otorhinolaryngological diseases characterized by persistent inflammation of the palatine tonsils and recurrent infectious episodes. The disease significantly affects upper respiratory tract health and may lead to systemic inflammatory complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and microbiological characteristics of chronic tonsillitis and determine the significance of inflammatory markers in disease severity. The study included 48 patients diagnosed with chronic tonsillitis who underwent clinical, microbiological, and laboratory evaluation. Elevated inflammatory markers, recurrent bacterial colonization, and structural tonsillar changes were significantly associated with frequent exacerbations and impaired respiratory function. Statistical analysis demonstrated a strong positive correlation between bacterial colonization and recurrence frequency (r = 0.73; p <0.001). The findings confirm the important role of chronic infection and inflammatory activity in chronic tonsillitis progression.
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