Optimal site for throat culture: tonsillar surface versus posterior pharyngeal wall

To determine the optimal site of throat culture for the detection of potential pathogens by comparing culture results from the tonsillar surface and the posterior pharyngeal wall in children selected for adenotonsillectomy and in children without upper respiratory disease. Cotton culture swabs were taken from the tonsillar surface and the posterior pharyngeal wall of 50 children selected for adenotonsillectomy for symptoms of recurrent tonsillitis and/or adenotonsillar hypertrophy and of 50 children without upper respiratory disease. Potential respiratory pathogens were identified. In the overall group (n = 100), positive culture results were found in 67 posterior pharyngeal wall samples and 47 tonsillar surface samples (P = 0.001). Haemophilus influenzae was the most frequently isolated micro-organism both in the posterior pharyngeal wall and the tonsillar surface samples; 55 and 35%, respectively (P = 0.001). Group A beta-haemolytic streptococci were found in the samples of the posterior pharyngeal wall and the tonsillar surface in 17 and 13%, respectively (P = 0.2). When dealing with patients with sore throat, sampling both tonsillar surfaces is enough for the detection of group A beta-haemolytic streptococci. When detection of other bacteria is also important, such as for research purposes, the posterior pharyngeal wall should be sampled as well.     

腭扁桃体中β-防御素的表达及意义

目的 :检测人β 防御素 (hBD) 1,2mRNA在慢性扁桃体炎组织和正常对照组织中的表达 ,分析腭扁桃体在天然免疫中的作用。方法 :应用逆转录聚合酶链反应技术检测 10例扁桃体炎组和 8例正常对照组中hBD 1和hBD 2mRNA的表达。结果 :hBD 1mRNA在扁桃体炎组和正常对照组中均有表达 ,且两组间差异无统计学意义 (P >0 .0 5 )。hBD 2mRNA在正常对照组中仅有微弱表达 ,而在扁桃体炎组中表达明显增强 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论 :扁桃体通过表达hBD在天然免疫中发挥重要作用。     

Prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in patients with recurrent tonsillitis and elevated anti-streptolysin O titers

IntroductionPatients with elevated anti-streptolysin O (ASO) titers (ASOT) and recurrent tonsillitis episodes are known to be at higher risk for rheumatic heart disease (RHD). However, there is no data regarding prevalence of RHD in this high risk population. In this study, we aimed to screen ambulatory patients with elevated ASOT and recurrent tonsillitis episodes using echocardiography for identification of RHD. We hypothesized that prevalence of RHD is higher in this patient group compared to general population.Methods102 patients (10.33 ± 4.01 years, 50.98% female) who were diagnosed with recurrent tonsillitis and had elevated ASOT were included this study. Echocardiographic evaluation was performed by an experienced cardiologist.ResultsEchocardiographic examination revealed definite RHD in 2/102 (1.96%) patients and borderline RHD in 3/102 (2.94%) patients.ConclusionOur study demonstrates a high prevalence of RHD in patients with recurrent tonsillitis episodes and high ASOT. Screening with echocardiography is beneficial to improve the detection rates of subclinical RHD in such high-risk populations.     

Allergy genuflection? It's surmount with special focus on ear,nose and throat

The system that protects body from infectious agents is immune system. On occasions, the system seldom reacts with some foreign particles and causes allergy. Allergies of the ear, nose and throat (ENT) often have serious consequences, including impairment and emotional strain that lowers the quality of life of patients. This is further responsible for the common cold, cough, tonsillitis, dermal infection, chest pain and asthma-like conditions which disturb one's day to day life. The present review enlightens some common ENT allergies which one can suffer more frequently in one's lifetime, and ignorance leads to making the condition chronic. Information regarding pathophysiology and the management of ENT allergy by this review could help clinicians and common people to better understand the circumstances and treatment of ENT allergy.     

Complementary and alternative medicine in the (symptomatic) treatment of acute tonsillitis in children: A systematic review

BackgroundAcute tonsillitis (including tonsillopharyngitis) in childhood is a common disease with a peak of illness in school-age. Most of these cases have a viral origin and antibiotic therapy is not indicated, therefore, effective symptomatic therapy is required. For this reason, complementary, alternative and integrative medicine therapies might be a solution.ObjectiveThe aim of this review is to demonstrate study status of such therapies.MethodsThe databases PubMed, Cochrane Library, OVID, CAMbase, CAM-QUEST® and Anthromedics were systematically screened for studies investigating complementary, alternative and integrative therapy approaches in paediatric cohorts. Studies were analyzed by therapy approach, study design, cohort and outcome, using the PRISMA 2020 checklist.ResultsThe systematic literature search resulted in 321 articles. Five publications corresponded to the search criteria and were assigned to the following specific therapeutic categories: herbal medicine (3), homeopathy (1) and ayurvedic medicine (1). Clinical trials were found for the herbal compounds BNO 1030 (Impupret®) and EPs® 7630 (Umckaloabo), the homeopathic complex Tonzolyt® and the ayurvedic medicine Kanchnara-Guggulu and Pratisarana of Tankana‑Madhu. Antimicrobial effects of essential oils and carvacrol as single agents as well as in combination with erythromycin were analysed in an in vitro study.ConclusionClinical studies indicate an improvement of symptoms and a good tolerability of all investigated remedies of complementary, alternative and integrative medicine in the treatment of tonsillitis in childhood. Nevertheless, quality and quantity of the studies were insufficient to make a reliable conclusion regarding effectiveness. Therefore, more clinical trials are urgently needed to achieve a meaningful result.     

扁桃体周围炎侵蚀颈部血管破裂死亡1例

1 临床资料 患者男,44岁,因咽痛半个月,咽部大量出血一天入院,患者半个月前无明显诱因开始出现右侧咽痛,伴张口受限,经当地卫生院抗炎对症治疗后咽痛缓解,一天前咽部右侧突然大量出血,失血约500 ml,经当地卫生院救治后仍反复出血,于2004-11-22日17时急诊入院。     

低温等离子射频消融术治疗扁桃体炎的效果观察

目的:探讨低温等离子射频消融术治疗扁桃体炎的效果。方法:将中山市古镇人民医院在2017年5月-2018年12月诊治的86扁桃体炎患者纳入研究,随机分成对照组和观察组,每组43例,对照组采用扁桃体剥离术,观察组采用低温等离子射频消融术。结果:观察组总有效率为97.67%(42/43),出血率为2.33%(1/43),对照组总有效率为83.72%(36/43),出血率为16.28%(7/43),手术时间明显短于对照组,术中出血量明显少于对照组,疼痛评分明显低于对照组,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:对扁桃体炎患者采用低温等离子射频消融术治疗,效果确切,具有重要的临床应用价值。     

Systematic Evaluation(Meta-analysis)of the Efficacy and Safety of Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid(蒲地蓝消炎口服液)in the Treatment of Suppurutive Tonsillitis in Children

To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral in Liquid(蒲地蓝消炎口服液)in the treatment of suppurative tonsillitis in children.In WanFang,CNKI,VIP,CBM,PubMed,Embase and Corchrane and other databases,relevant literatures about Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid(蒲地蓝消炎口服液)in the treatment of pediatric suppurative tonsillitis were searched.The retrieval time was from the establishment of the database to April 2019.Relevant randomized controlled trials were extracted.The control group was treated with conventional antibiotics,and the observation group was treated with Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid(蒲地蓝消炎口服液)based on the control group.After they were summarized and analyzed,Cochrane Handbook 5.1 evaluation standard and RevMan 5.3 software were used to determine the quality of literature.A total of 172 literatures were retrieved and 23 randomized controlled trials were included.A total of 1188 children were in the experimental group while 1175 children were in the control group,involving 2363 children with suppurative tonsillitis.Meta-analysis showed that the total effective rate of Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid(蒲地蓝消炎口服液)combined with routine treatment was better than that of routine treatment(RR=0.88,95%CI(0.86,0.91),P<0.00001);Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid(蒲地蓝消炎口服液)combined with routine treatment in children was better than that of routine treatment alone in term of temperature recovery,sore throat time,the reduction of tonsil purulent secretion.There were few reports of adverse reactions and no serious adverse reactions.To sum up,Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid(蒲地蓝消炎口服液)combined with routine treatment can significantly improve the efficacy of children with suppurative tonsillitis,but due to the low quality of the included literature,it should be used cautiously.It is suggested that clinical randomized controlled trials should be designed with large sample size,multi-centers and conforming to international standards to improve the quality of evidence.     

Guidelines of the French Society of Otorhinolaryngology (SFORL): Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and pediatric ENT infections. Short version

ObjectivesTo present the guidelines of the French Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery concerning the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in pediatric ENT infections.MethodsBased on a critical analysis of the medical literature up to November 2016, a multidisciplinary workgroup of 11 practitioners wrote clinical practice guidelines. Levels of evidence were classified according to the GRADE (Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) system: GRADE A, B, C or “expert opinion”. The first version of the text was reworked by the workgroup following comments by the 22 members of the reading group.ResultsThe main recommendations are: NSAIDs are indicated at analgesic doses (e.g. 20–30 mg/kg/day for ibuprofen) in combination with paracetamol (acetaminophen) in uncomplicated pediatric ENT infections (acute otitis media, tonsillitis, upper respiratory infections, and maxillary sinusitis) if: o pain is of medium intensity (visual analogue scale (VAS) score 3–5 or “Evaluation Enfant Douleur” (EVENDOL) child pain score 4–7) and insufficiently relieved by first-line paracetamol (residual VAS ≥ 3 or EVENDOL ≥ 4); o pain is moderate to intense (VAS 5–7 or EVENDOL 7–10). When combined, paracetamol and ibuprofen are ideally taken simultaneously every 6 h. It is recommended: (1) o not to prescribe NSAIDs in severe or complicated pediatric ENT infections; (2) o to suspend NSAIDs treatment in case of unusual clinical presentation of the infection (duration or symptoms); (3) o not to prescribe NSAIDs for more than 72 h.     

Herpes simplex induced necrotizing tonsillitis in an immunocompromised patient with ulcerative colitis

We here present the case of a 22-year-old female of Suriname ethnicity with ulcerative colitis who received treatment with mercaptopurine and infliximab. She presented herself with a severe necrotizing tonsillitis due to herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1). Combination therapy consisting of immunomodulators and anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents is increasingly being used. Anti-TNF therapy is associated with an increased risk of developing serious infections, and especially patients receiving combination treatment with thiopurines are at an increased risk. We here show that HSV infections can cause a severe tonsillitis in immunocompromised patients. Early recognition is essential when there is no improvement with initial antibiotic therapy within the first 24 to 72 h. HSV infections should be in the differential diagnosis of immunocompromised patients presenting with a necrotizing tonsillitis and can be confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Early treatment with antiviral agents should be considered especially if antibiotic treatment fails in such patients.