Peritonsillar Abscess Associated with Infectious Mononucleosis: Retrospective Study of Three Cases

Three cases with infectious mononuculeosis associated with peritonsillar abscess were reviewed. The initial diagnoses in these three cases were tonsillitis or peritonsillitis. However, infectious mononucleosis was suspected because of an elevation in aminotransferases and was later confirmed by elevations in the titers of antibodies for EpsteinBarr virus. Peritonsillar abscesses developed and surgical drainage was peritormed in all three cases. The present study suggests a higher incidence of peritonsillar abscess in patients with infectious mononucleosis than previously expected.