Immunoglobulin E level in children with chronic hypertrophied tonsils either symptomatized or not symptomatized

Abstract

Background Hypertrophy of tonsils is common in the pediatric population, primarily affecting younger children, aged 3–6 years. Tonsillar hypertrophy symptoms are among the most common causes for pediatric or ENT visits in children. Hence, doctors also need to be informed of the potential complications of tonsillar hypertrophy and the surgical indications. Therefore, the physiology of tonsils, their function for the immune system, and the early and late effects of tonsillar hypertrophy also need to be understood. Objective The aim was to measure the total serum and tonsillar tissue immunoglobulin E (IgE) level in children with chronic hypertrophied tonsils who will undergo for tonsillectomy (symptomatized children) and serum IgE level in nonsymptomatized children. Patients and methods This is a prospective comparative study that was carried out at the Otorhinolaryngology Department at Al-Zahraa University hospital and Al Mataria General Hospital. The study included 40 children, and their ages ranged from 5 to 15 years. Overall, 19 were males and 21 were females diagnosed with chronic hypertrophied tonsils. Half of them were symptomatized and underwent tonsillectomy, and the rest were not symptomatized. Results There was no significant difference in the serum IgE level in symptomatized and nonsymptomatized children. A statistically significant difference was found between the serum IgE level and the grades of tonsillar hypertrophy in both symptomatized and nonsymptomatized children. Tonsillar IgE level was also increased with increase in the grade of tonsillar hypertrophy. The relation between the serum and the tonsillar IgE levels in symptomatized children was found to be significant. Conclusion The authors observed a strong relationship between the serum IgE level and the grade of tonsillar hypertrophy in the two groups. Regarding the tonsillar IgE level in symptomatized children, there was an increase with increase in the grade of tonsillar hypertrophy, and there was also a positive correlation between serum and tonsillar IgE levels.