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Actinomycetes colonization of tonsils: a comparative study between patients with and without recurrent tonsillitis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 October 2006

S-T Toh ,
H-W Yuen  and
Y-H Goh
S-T Toh*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Singapore General Hospital, Republic of Singapore.
H-W Yuen
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Singapore General Hospital, Republic of Singapore.
Y-H Goh
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Singapore General Hospital, Republic of Singapore.
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Song-Tar Toh, Department of Otolaryngology, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore169608. Fax: 65 2262079 E-mail: songtar74@yahoo.com.sg
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Abstract

Objective:

To determine the prevalence of tonsillar actinomycetes colonization in patients with and without recurrent tonsillitis and to study the association of this condition with recurrent tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy.

Study design and setting:

A retrospective study of 834 patients who had undergone tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis (group A) and for sleep-disordered breathing without a history of recurrent tonsillitis (group B).

Results:

The prevalence of tonsillar actinomycetes colonization was higher in patients who had undergone tonsillectomy for sleep-disordered breathing (44.1 per cent) than in patients who had undergone tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis (33.3 per cent). The prevalence did not differ by sex or age of patient, although the occurrence rate was higher in the adult compared with the paediatric population. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean size of the tonsils removed in the two groups, and actinomycetes colonization did not affect tonsil size. Histopathological analysis of resected tonsils did not show active tissue infection.

Conclusion:

The presence of actinomyces does not indicate active disease. We are of the opinion that, although actinomyces colonization is more prevalent in patients with sleep-disordered breathing, it does not contribute to tonsillar hypertrophy nor to recurrent tonsillitis.

Keywords

ActinomycetesTonsillitisTonsilSleep Apnoea Syndromes
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 121 , Issue 8 , August 2007 , pp. 775 - 778
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2006

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