Reviewed on : 22 Aug 2022

Reviewed by : Lucy Dyde Coventry & Warwickshire CCG IFR and Gateway Editor

Expires : 22 Aug 2024

Recurrent Tonsillitis and Tonsillectomy

Please note: Suspected tonsillar malignancy is an unequivocal indication for tonsillectomy, and not subject to the criteria below.

Please confirm that the patient meets the criteria for ONE of the sections below:

Section a

The patient has recurrent sore throat due to acute tonsillitis and the following documented evidence applies:

• SEVEN or more documented, clinically significant, adequately treated sore throats in the preceding ONE year  OR
• FIVE or more episodes in each of the preceding TWO years OR
• THREE or more episodes in each the preceding THREE years

Please provide the dates of the recorded diagnosed episodes of clinically significant sore throat/tonsillitis

If the patient has not met any of the diagnosis frequency criteria above, please indicate which of the following alternative eligibility criteria are met:

Section b

• Following specialist assessment, the patient has acute and chronic renal disease resulting from acute bacterial tonsillitis AND/OR
• Following specialist assessment, this intervention is part of the treatment of severe guttate psoriasis AND/OR
• Following specialist assessment, the patient has metabolic disorders where periods of reduced oral intake could be dangerous to their health AND/OR
• Following specialist assessment, the patient has Periodic fever, Aphthous stomatitis, Pharyngitis, Cervical adenitis (PFAPA) AND/OR
• Following specialist assessment, the patient has severe immune deficiency that would make episodes of recurrent tonsillitis dangerous

Section c

• Patient has a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea associated with tonsillar enlargement,
• supported by a sleep study or other accepted method of diagnosis

Section d

• Patient has had one episode of peri-tonsillar abscess (recurrent quinsy)

Section e

Patient has tonsillar enlargement causing acute upper airway obstruction requiring emergency surgery