A comparative analysis of the aetiology and clinical manifestations of acute tonsillitis in men and women

Acute tonsillitis is one of the most common diseases in outpatient practice, with a multifactorial aetiology. This study analysed the gender-specific characteristics of acute tonsillitis in 59 patients aged 18–70 years. Pathogens were identified using immunochromatographic tests to detect Streptococcus pyogenes, influenza A and B viruses, adenoviruses, SARS-CoV-2 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Statistical analysis included the Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test. The results revealed no statistically significant gender differences in clinical parameters. Body mass index was 24.9±3.2 in women versus 25.4±2.4 in men (p=0.100). There were also no significant differences in the intensity of pain on a visual analogue scale at rest (5.4±1.3 vs. 6.0±1.1) or during swallowing (6.8±1.3 vs. 7.2±1.0). Analysis of anamnestic data revealed a tendency towards more frequent smoking among men (32.0 % vs. 14.7 %; p = 0.128) and recent antibiotic use among women (17.6 % vs 8.0 %; p = 0.447). A positive result for Strep A was more common in women (16.0 % vs. 8.0 %), which is consistent with population studies. The results indicate no statistically significant gender differences in the clinical course of acute tonsillitis, although certain quantitative trends are observed. This highlights the need for further studies on larger samples to investigate gender aspects of the aetiology and course of the disease.