ABSTRACT

Background : Tonsillitis often occurs in children, although it is rare in children under 1 year.
The incidence increases with age, reaches a peak at the age of 4-7 years, and continues into
adulthood. Most people with tonsillitis is caused by foods that they consumed such as fried
foods, spicy foods and cold drinks. The precipitating factors that can cause tonsillitis in children
should be avoided. This study aimed to determine the relations between the habits of eating fried
foods as a cause of tonsillitis in children at Puskesmas Pakuan Baru Jambi.

Methods : This research is an analytical study with cross sectional study design. The samples
were children who had a history or were experiencing fever and sore throat who came to seek
treatment at Puskesmas Pakuan Baru Jambi, 94 samples were taken using random sampling
method. The data were analyzed by using SPSS 19 software and tested by Chi-Square test.

Results : Among ninety-four respondents of the relations between habits of eating fried food
and tonsillitis in children, 44 respondents had fried foods > 5x per week, 18 respondents (40.9%)
were not diagnosed with tonsillitis. Statistical test using Chi-square found that P-value = 0,282.
From ninety-four respondents of the relations between fried-foods hygiene and tonsillitis in
children, 62 respondents who ate fried foods were not hygienic, 27 respondents (43.5%) were
diagnosed with tonsillitis. Statistical test using Chi-square found that p-value = 0.009.

Conclusion : There was no significant relations between habits of eating fried foods and
tonsillitis in children at Puskesmas Pakuan Baru Jambi. There is a relations between fried-foods
hygiene and tonsillitis in children at Puskesmas Pakuan Baru Jambi.

Keywords : fried-foods, hygiene, tonsillitis