A recurrent tonsillitis

Abstract

In March, 2012, a 38-year-old man presented to us with a 3-week history of recurrent episodes of fever, bilateral tonsillitis with tonsillar exudates, and enlarged cervical nodes. He had been given amoxicillin (1 g twice a day) for 6 days but relapsed 3 days after completion of treatment. He was given cefpodoxim (200 mg twice a day) for 5 days but relapsed 1 day later. A rapid test for group A streptococcus, and serological tests for HIV and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), were negative. White blood cell count (16 g/L, 88% neutrophils) and C-reactive protein (121 mg/L) suggested bacterial infection.