Recurrent tonsillitis

What it means

Inflammation of the tonsils that has occurred repeatedly. The definition of recurrent may vary somewhat, but the criteria used recently as a measure of severity were five or more episodes of true tonsillitis per year, symptoms recurring for at least a year, and episodes that are disabling and that prevent normal functioning. In some cases recurrent tonsillitis may be related to immunosusceptibility. Evidence exists for a genetic predisposition for recurrent tonsillitis.

Rare diseases that can present with this9

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category