Background
Recurrent tonsillitis remains one of the most common problems that GPs manage, with an annual reported incidence of 100 per 1000 population1. Recurrent tonsillitis can have a significant impact on a patient’s quality of life; repeated absences from nursery/school /work and hospital admissions can cause a serious negative impact on both the patient and their family2.
Halitosis is a general term used to define an unpleasant or offensive odour emanating from expired air, which can originate from both oral and non-oral sources. Halitosis is a relatively common disorder, with 10-30% of the population said to report it, with the prevalence being equal between females and males3. Halitosis has multifactorial origins, most commonly related to pathology in the oral cavity, oropharynx or respiratory disease. It is mostly due to putrefying bacteria present on the dorsum of the tongue and the volatile sulphur compounds (VSC’s) produced from food elements. Halitosis has significant social and psychological impacts.
Despite very many reports suggesting that tonsillitis causes halitosis, there is very little published literature to support this. The aim of this audit was to establish the prevalence of halitosis symptoms in patients who are SIGN compliant for tonsillectomy due to recurrent tonsillitis.