The usual treatment for peritonsillar abscess in the United States is incision, drainage and antibiotic therapy followed by tonsillectomy several weeks later. Why this treatment began is not clear but it probably originated from fear of complications which might arise from operating during the acute stage. This therapy requires two hospitalizations and tonsillectomy after previous abscess can be difficult. Tonsillitis or peritonsillar abscess can recur any time after the initial abscess is treated. A series of 50 cases of peri-tonsillar abscesses treated by immediate tonsillectomy is presented and evaluated. The results show this operation has a low morbidity and no significantly greater complication rate than elective tonsellectomy.