Prevalence and clinical features of laryngopharyngeal reflux in adults with chronic tonsillitis

To assess the prevalence and clinical presentation of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) among adults with chronic tonsillitis and examine how effective reflux treatments are for these patients.

A prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary referral hospital from March 2024 to January 2025 on adult participants diagnosed with chronic tonsillitis who presented with tonsillar inflammation and sore throat. The participants were evaluated before and after treatment with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and dietary and lifestyle modifications for 3 months. The assessment tools used were as follows: visual analog scale (VAS) for sore throat, tonsillar grade, reflux symptom index (RSI), and reflux finding score (RFS).

The study included 112 patients, of whom 81 (72.3%) had LPR based on RSI and RFS measurements. Of the participants who met the criteria for LPR diagnosis, 78 received 3 months of treatment. Of the patients who completed the study treatment protocol, 64.1% reported complete relief from sore throat. Mean VAS scores significantly reduced from 2.69 to 0.97 (p<0.001), tonsillar grades from 1.78 to 1.64 (p=0.001), RSI scores from 20.6 to 12.7 (p<0.001), and RFS scores from 11.1 to 6.40 (p<0.001).

This study demonstrates a significant association between chronic tonsillitis and LPR. Treating LPR in patients with chronic tonsillitis with PPIs and dietary and lifestyle modifications can improve LPR and tonsillar inflammation, potentially reducing unnecessary tonsillectomies.