In 161 patients treated for a peritonsillar abscess by stab incision as the only surgical procedure, a follow-up study was conducted after 3 1/2 to eight years. Of all the patients examined, 51% had experienced no throat symptoms, 22% had had recurrent peritonsillar abscesses, 20% had had recurrent episodes of tonsillitis with fever, and 7% had had symptoms resembling episodic pharyngitis in varying degrees. The age of the patient and the patient's history of previous throat infections were found to have prognostic value. Older patients (older than 40 years) had a lower incidence of new throat infections (peritonsillar abscess, tonsillitis, or both) than younger patients. Patients without previous throat symptoms had a lower incidence of new throat infections than patients with a history of throat infection before the peritonsillar abscess, which in itself might indicate the need for tonsillectomy.