Chronic tonsillitis and voice

Chronic tonsillitis occurs in 5-10% of adult population, while post-tonsillectomy complications reach up to 20%. In a number of metatonsillar complications an important role is played by changes in the voice acoustic characteristics. The study of possible changes in the voice with different forms of chronic tonsillitis was the aim of our study. We examined 2 groups of patients with chronic tonsillitis: one with toxic-allergic form 1 and the second with form 2. The first group of patients underwent treatment by washing lacunas of palatine tonsils with aqueous solution of chlorhexidine, and the second group of patients - cold knife tonsillectomy. The complex of patient studies included voice acoustic analysis, voice evaluation using a Voice Handicap Index questionnaire, videolaryngostroscopy, nasopharynx endoscopy. First group patients were conducted directly before and after the course of treatment, second group patients - the day before tonsillectomy, 1 and 6 months after surgery. This monograph presents the modern level of studies about the impact of chronic tonsillitis and tonsillectomy on the acoustic characteristics of the voice and the data obtained from our observations.