Introduction. The chronization of reactive arthritis is frequently related to the persistence of arthritis triggering infection in the organism. Relapses of reactive arthritis can be induced by other bacteria than the triggers of this disease, for example, those persisting in the focus of chronic infection. The boundaries between reactive arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis sometimes are blurred, and similar link between arthritis and focus of chronic infection exists in them. The aim of the current review is to discuss the features of recurrent tonsillitis in children with rheumatic arthritides and their impact on physician’s decisions.

Material and methods. The literature data for the period of 1980–2008 concerning connection between children’s rheumatic arthritides and foci of chronic infection were analysed.

Results. The essential part of children’s rheumatic arthritides is associated with the upper respiratory tract infections. In pediatric patients, foci of chronic infection are the most frequent in the upper respiratory tract, and the main of them is recurrent tonsillitis. Despite the lower number of tonsillitis recurrences in patients with rheumatic arthritides and recurrent tonsillitis, their tonsils are more profoundly damaged than in patients suffering from recurrent tonsillitis only.

Conclusions. In children with rheumatic arthritides the number of recurrences of tonsillitis should not serve as the only indication for tonsillectomy, and its results should not be evaluated only by the number of throat infections as is recommended in the great majority of recent literature sources. The decision to perform tonsillectomy and evaluation of its results in arthritis patients should be made from both otorhinolaryngological and rheumatological positions.

Keywords: recurrent tonsillitis; reactive arthritis; juvenile idiopathic arthritis