[Chronic tonsillitis--pathogenesis, symptomatology and therapy].

Chronic tonsillitis is a common disease entity which, on account of the possibility of the tonsils becoming a focus of infection, must not be made light of. The patient's complaints are highly uncharacteristic, and it is not always possible to establish the diagnosis on the local findings alone. Rather, the patient's history and general state of health must also be considered when considering the diagnosis. By reason of the pathogenesis, the treatment of choice can only be tonsillectomy.