Bilateral hypertrophy of the palatine tonsils

Bilateral hypertrophy of the palatine tonsils can be either an acute or chronic a condition. Chronic hypertrophy is now more and more frequent, and it usually affects children of less than five years of age who otherwise may not have pharyngitis often. The etiology and pathogenesis of tonsillar hypertrophy are not clear. Two hypotheses are currently the most accepted: the first, the deleterious effects of pollution, and the second, inflammation in the upper airways. When ventilation is affected, particularly during sleep, corticoids are the recommended treatment for the acute form and tonsillectomy for the chronic form. It should be noted that that intervention has no immunoallergic consequence, even in very young infants. (c) 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. Tous droits reserves.