Abstract
The tonsil, a frequent site of infection, presents various clinical problems in our practice.
It is, at the same, time an immune organ, which functions to help prevent infections.
Although inflammation of the tonsil can usually be controlled by antibiotics, frequent tonsil infection may induce ill effects systemically.
There are extensive fundamental studies in regard to the morphology and functions of the tonsil. However, the results and knowledge from such studies have not been fully applied to the clinical management of the disease yet. The author considers that clinical application of fundamental knowledge will be one of the most important aspects of future studies on the tonsil.
Two of the most important questions that should be answered are; 1. Why tonsillitis recurs so frequently. 2. What are the clear and scientific criteria for indications for tonsillectomy.
