Sudden and unexpected death due to unilateral tonsillitis.

Abstract

Tonsillitis is a relatively well treatable disease. Complications of untreated tonsillitis can even today result in life-threatening complications. The aim of this study is to present a case of a 47-year-old man without previous history of health problems, who suffocated after a brief episode of breathing difficulties. At the forensic autopsy, left-side necrotising tonsillitis with adjacent soft tissue, uvula, and epiglottis swelling and inflammation and significant airway narrowing were found.