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Published on: August 7, 2017
The relationship of tonsillar hyperplasia and asthma in a group of asthmatic children
Omer Ceran1, Sibel Aka, Devrim Oztemel
1Department of Pediatrics, Haydarpasa Numune Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Insights
Frequent tonsillitis and tonsillar hyperplasia in children are linked to asthma development. Recurrent tonsillitis may decrease asthma prevalence by promoting a Th1 immune response, aligning with the hygiene hypothesis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric immunology
- Allergy and immunology
Background:
- Declining childhood infections correlate with increased atopic disorders in developed nations.
- Investigated the link between frequent tonsillitis, tonsillar hyperplasia, and asthma development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between recurrent tonsillitis and tonsillar hyperplasia with asthma development in children.
- To explore the immunological mechanisms potentially linking tonsillitis to asthma, considering the hygiene hypothesis.
Main Methods:
- Study included 67 asthmatic children (ages 3-14) and 92 controls without asthma or acute tonsillitis.
- Data collected via parental interviews on tonsillitis history and tonsillectomy.
- Tonsil size assessed using the Brodsky L. Scala by oropharyngeal inspection.
Main Results:
- A significant association was found between frequent tonsillitis, tonsillar hyperplasia, and the development of asthma.
- The study identified a statistically significant link between these factors.
Conclusions:
- Recurrent tonsillitis may reduce asthma prevalence by inducing a Th1-predominant immune response.
- Findings support the hygiene hypothesis, suggesting early life infections play a role in immune-mediated diseases like asthma.
Background:
The decline of infections in childhood may contribute to the rising severity and prevalence of atopic disorders in developed countries. With this regard, we examined the relationship of frequent tonsillitis and consequent tonsillar hyperplasia with the development of asthma.
Methods:
Sixty-seven asthmatic children (ages 3-14) who had no signs or symptoms of acute tonsillitis were included. The control group consisted of 92 randomly selected children who had no signs or symptoms of asthma or acute tonsillitis. Parents were interviewed about the incidence of tonsillitis diagnosed by physicians and history of tonsillectomy; tonsil sizes were evaluated by oropharyngeal inspection by the same observer using the Brodsky L. Scala.
Results:
A statistically significant association is found between frequent tonsillitis and consequent tonsillar hyperplasia with the development of asthma.
Conclusions:
Our data suggests that recurrent tonsillitis is associated with a decline in the prevalence of asthma by inducing a Th 1 predominant immune response. Our findings are compatible with the hygiene hypothesis.
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