Hospital discharge rate due to Peritonsillar Abscess in men and women older than or equal to 1 year in Chile between the years 2020-2023

Abstract

Introduction: Peritonsillar abscess is the most common complication of tonsillitis. It is of polymicrobial cause, highly frequent in young patients.  Objective: Calculate the Hospital Discharge Rate for peritonsillar abscess, in men and women older than 1 year, during 2020-2023 in Chile. Methodology: Observational ecological design. Hospital discharges due to peritonsillar abscess were studied, according to age and sex between 2020-2023 (n= 7.286), with data from the DEIS and Information and the Chilean Ministry of Health. No Ethics Committee was required. Results: 2023 was the year with the highest Hospital Discharge Rate, with 14,72 per 100.000 inhabitants. Males represented the highest rate with an average of 11,57. The predominant age group was 15 to 19 years old with a rate of 20,46 per 100.000 inhabitants. Discussion: The highest Hospital Discharge Rate was in the years 2022 and 2023, which could be explained by the increase in the availability of beds after the pandemic. The male sex presented a higher rate of hospital discharge, which may be due to a higher prevalence of Streptococcus Pyogenes in men. The age group with the highest rate was between 15-19 years of age, which may be due to hormonal development and immune system changes during this period. Conclusion: There was a progressive increase in the Hospital Discharge Rate between 2020-2023 in Chile, with a higher rate in the male sex and in the 15-19 years age group. These results provide an epidemiological update on peritonsillar abscess in Chile, facilitating the understanding of its behavior.