Adenoidal Disease and Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Children-Is there a Link?

A rat model of adenoid hypertrophy constructed by using ovalbumin and lipopolysaccharides to induce allergy, chronic inflammation, and chronic intermittent hypoxia

BACKGROUND

Adenoid hypertrophy (AH) is a common pediatric disease that significantly impacts the growth and quality of life of children. However, there is no replicable and valid model for AH.

METHODS

An AH rat model was developed via comprehensive allergic sensitization, chronic inflammation induction, and chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH). The modeling process involved three steps: female Sprague-Dawley rats (aged 4-5 weeks) were used for modeling. Allergen sensitization was induced via intraperitoneal administration and intranasal provocation using ovalbumin (OVA); chronic nasal inflammation was induced through intranasal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration for sustained nasal irritation; CIH akin to obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome was induced using an animal hypoxia chamber. Postmodel establishment, behaviors, and histological changes in nasopharynx-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) and nasal mucosa were assessed. Arterial blood gas analysis and quantification of serum and tissue levels of (interleukin) IL-4 and IL-13, OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), IL-17, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β were conducted for assessment. The treatment group received a combination of mometasone furoate and montelukast sodium for a week and then was evaluated.

RESULTS

Rats exhibited notable nasal symptoms and hypoxia after modeling. Histopathological analysis revealed NALT follicle hypertrophy and nasal mucosa inflammatory cell infiltration. Elevated IL-4, IL-13, IL-17, OVA-sIgE, ECP, and TNF-α levels and reduced TGF-β levels were observed in the serum and tissue of model-group rats. After a week of treatment, the treatment group exhibited symptom and inflammatory factor improvement.

CONCLUSION

The model effectively simulates AH symptoms and pathological changes. But it should be further validated for genetic, immunological, and hormonal backgrounds in the currently used and other strains and species.

Unveiling the Enigmatic Adenoids and Tonsils: Exploring Immunology, Physiology, Microbiome Dynamics, and the Transformative Power of Surgery

Within the intricate realm of the mucosal immune system resides a captivating duo: the adenoids (or pharyngeal tonsils) and the tonsils (including palatine, tubal, and lingual variations), which harmoniously form the Waldeyer's ring. As they are strategically positioned at the crossroads of the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems, these exceptional structures fulfill a vital purpose. They function as formidable "gatekeepers" by screening microorganisms-both bacteria and viruses-with the mission to vanquish local pathogens via antibody production. However, under specific circumstances, their function can take an unsettling turn, inadvertently transforming them into reservoirs for pathogen incubation. In this review, we embark on a fascinating journey to illuminate the distinctive role of these entities, focusing on the local immune system inside their tissues. We delve into their behavior during inflammation processes, meticulously scrutinize the indications for surgical intervention, and investigate the metamorphosis of their microbiota in healthy and diseased states. We explore the alterations that occur prior to and following procedures like adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, or their combined counterparts, particularly in pediatric patients. By comprehending a wealth of data, we may unlock the key to the enhanced management of patients with otorhinolaryngological disorders. Empowered with this knowledge, we can embrace improved therapeutic approaches and targeted interventions/surgeries guided by evidence-based guidelines and indications.

Does Adenoid Hypertrophy Increase the Risk of Orbital Complication in Children with Acute Sinusitis?

Adenoid hypertrophy (AH) plays a role as a reservoir for bacterial growth and decreases mucociliary clearance which might contribute to the development of an infection. To compare the presence of AH in the pediatric population presenting with orbital complications as a result of ABRS and the control group radiologically. Patients who were diagnosed with OC as a result of ABRS labeled as case group, and the patients who had undergone computed tomography (CT) for indications other than sinonasal diseases were assigned as control group. Both groups were retrospectively reviewed to measure the adenoid, nasopharynx, and adenoid/nasopharynx ratio (ANR) in the axial and mid-sagittal planes. We compared 52 patients from case group to 57 control group. In the CT axial plane, adenoid length was greater in the OC group compared to the control group, with a significant difference (p-value = 0.02) of 14.2 ± 3.5 mm compared to 11.2 ± 7 mm, respectively. The ANRs were 2.9 in the OC group and 2.8 in the control group, with a p-value of 0.089. In the mid-sagittal plane, only the anteroposterior length was significantly greater in the OC group, with a mean of 19.9 ± 5.3 mm compared to 15.2 ± 8.8 mm in the control group (p-value = 0.007). The process of inflammation increased the anteroposterior length of the adenoids. However, the ANR was similar between the two groups, indicating that adenoid hypertrophy is not directly related as a risk factor for OC in pediatric patients with ARBS.

Adenoid hypertrophy in children: a narrative review of pathogenesis and clinical relevance

Adenoids (nasopharyngeal tonsils), being part of Waldeyer's ring, are masses of lymphoid tissues located at the junction of the roof and the posterior wall of the nasopharynx. Adenoids play an important role in the development of the immune system and serve as a defence against infections, being the first organs that come into contact with respiratory and digestive antigens. The causes of adenoid hypertrophy are not fully known. They are most likely associated with aberrant immune reactions, infections, environmental exposures and hormonal or genetic factors. The aim of this review is to summarise the current knowledge of adenoid hypertrophy in children and associated diseases. Adenoid hypertrophy has many clinical manifestations that are frequent in the paediatric population and is accompanied by various comorbidities.

Influences of Airway Obstruction Caused by Adenoid Hypertrophy on Growth and Development of Craniomaxillofacial Structure and Respiratory Function in Children

Adenoid hypertrophy (AH) is a common disease in otorhinolaryngology. Children with chronic snoring and hypoxia are susceptible to long-term nasal obstruction, while long-term open-mouth breathing may cause craniofacial bone development disorders and dull facial expressions, the so-called adenoid face. The purpose of this work is to analyze the influence of AH-induced airway obstruction (AO) on the growth and development of craniomaxillofacial structure and respiratory function (RF) in children. The clinical data of 56 AH children (observation group) and 42 healthy children with physical examination (control group) who visited the Hebei Eye Hospital during the same period were retrospectively analyzed. All children received acoustic rhinometry and X-ray cephalometric measurements. The upper airway structure, sleep disorder score, and A/N value of nasopharyngeal lateral X-ray images were compared between cases and controls. For AH children, sleep tests were also performed to assess their RF. X-ray cephalometric measurements of facial morphology showed obvious vertical growth, mandibular retrognathia, and enlarged mandibular angle in AH children. AH mainly affects the size of the nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal airway. AH children presented with higher nasal airway resistance (5.11 ± 1.95 cmH₂O/L min) and lower nasopharyngeal volume (NPV) (16.86 ± 3.93 cm³) than controls. Of the AH children, 45 had abnormal RF, including 4 with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The A/N value of nasopharyngeal lateral X-ray images was significantly higher in AH children than in controls. Besides, worse sleep quality was found in AH children. The above differences were all of statistical significance. The above indicates that AH can affect the size of the nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal airway, change children's respiratory mode and RF, increase nasal resistance, and decrease NPV, resulting in upper respiratory tract stenosis, as well as craniomaxillofacial and oral malformations, which affects children's normal growth and development.

Nasal Polyps in Children: The Early Origins of a Challenging Adulthood Condition

Nasal polyps (NPs) are benign inflammatory masses causing chronic nasal obstruction, usually associated with underlying chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), which are rarely reported in childhood. The interest in NPs has recently increased due to new therapeutic options, namely biological agents, such as dupilumab, and an update of the European position paper on this topic was released in 2020, providing a detailed classification for these lesions and also discussing diagnostic and therapeutic approaches also in children. In childhood, NPs usually represent red flags for systemic diseases, such as cystic fibrosis and immunodeficiencies. This review outlines the recent data on NPs in childhood, focusing on predisposing factors for CRS as well as on the potential endotypes in this particular age group, for which further studies are required in order to better clarify their pathogenesis and to identify molecular biomarkers that could help achieve more personalized treatments.

Biofilm formation and molecular analysis of intercellular adhesion gene cluster (icaABCD) among Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from children with adenoiditis

Background and Objectives:

It is well known that Staphylococcus aureus biofilm plays an important role in adenoiditis and biofilm resistance frequently results in failure of therapy. The goal of this study was to evaluate the biofilm production of S. aureus isolates obtained from adenoid specimens and assess the relationship between biofilm formation ability and ica operon genes.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 112 adenoid samples were obtained from patients under 15 years old with adenoid hypertrophy. All S. aureus isolates were initially identified by standard microbiological tests and amplification of nuc by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Biofilm formation of S. aureus isolates was evaluated and icaADBC genes were detected by PCR technique.

Results:

There were 46 isolates (41%) identified as S. aureus. The ability to produce biofilm was detected among total S. aureus isolates. Molecular study of ica operon revealed that 2 (6.3%) and 19 (59.4%) isolates carried icaA and icaD, respectively. The prevalence of icaA + icaD was seen among 11 (34.4%) S. aureus isolates, while icaC and icaB were not detected.

Conclusion:

Our findings indicated that icaABCD operon are associated with biofilm formation in S. aureus isolates, however the absence of these genes may not necessarily exclude this property.

Persistent Nasal Obstruction: An Expression of the Pro-Inflammatory State?

Introduction: During the first years of life, the oro-pharyngeal lymphoid tissue gradually increases in size, causing in some children difficulty breathing and often leading to surgical removal of the tonsils and adenoids. The objective of the study is to assess the effects of the Mediterranean diet in children who had chronic upper airway obstruction. Material and methods: This was a prospective study pre-test/post-test comparison. Eighty-seven patients from two to eight years old were recruited. A food reeducation program based on the Mediterranean diet was applied for one year. Clinical, therapeutic, and anthropometric variables were studied. Results: The degree of nasal obstruction decreased in 95.1% of the patients. After the nutritional intervention, the number of colds with bacterial complications decreased by 80.26%; 60.9% had no bacterial complications during the year of the study. The use of antibiotics decreased by 81.94%. Symptomatic treatment decreased by 61.2%. Most patients did not require surgical intervention, and clinical evolution suggested that it would no longer be necessary. Conclusions: We can conclude by saying that the application of the traditional Mediterranean diet could be effective in the prevention and treatment of persistent nasal obstruction, limiting pharmacological and surgical intervention in many of these patients.

Detecting epidemiological relevance of adenoid hypertrophy, rhinosinusitis, and allergic rhinitis through an Internet search

Purpose

This study aimed to detect the epidemiological relevance between adenoid hypertrophy (AH) and rhinosinusitis, and AH and allergic rhinitis (AR) through an Internet search.

Methods

Internet search query data from January 2011 to December 2019 in China were retrieved from the Baidu Index (BI). Spearman’s correlation coefficients were used to detect the correlation among the search volumes of AH, rhinosinusitis, and AR. We also collected search data from the first 5 months of 2020, when quarantine was implemented in China due to the coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic. Then, we compared the search data to those obtained during the same period in 2019 to assess the effects of isolation on AH and AR.

Results

Statistically significant relevance was found between the search variations of AH and rhinosinusitis during 2011–2019 (R = 0.643, P < 0.05). However, the relationship between AH and AR was weak (R =  − 0.239, P < 0.05) and that between rhinosinusitis and AR (R =  − 0.022, P > 0.05) was not relevant. The average monthly search volume of AH and rhinosinusitis had a strong correlation (R = 0.846, P < 0.01), but AH and AR and rhinosinusitis and AR were not correlated (R = – 0.350, P > 0.05; R = – 0.042, P > 0.05, respectively). AH and rhinosinusitis search volumes decreased consistently during the first 5 months of 2020 (isolation), whereas that for AR increased during January–February.

Conclusion

AH had an epidemiological relationship with rhinosinusitis, which was not consistent with AR. The decrease in public gathering effectively reduced the morbidities of AH and rhinosinusitis but not those of AR.

Modern approaches to the treatment of chronic polypous rhinosinusitis

Introduction: Today, chronic polypous rhinosinusitis (CPR) occupies a special place among otolaryngological diseases, the incidence rate of which increases every year. To date, the main causes of chronic polypous rhinosinusitis are Staphylococcus aureus and anatomical abnormalities.

Diagnostics: Knowledge of a universal algorithm for the diagnosis of this disease, consisting of the collection of anamnesis, endoscopic examination of the nasal cavity, computed tomography of the paranasal sinuses, anterior active rhinomanometry and bacteriological determination of the microbial spectrum, allows diagnosing chronic polyposis rhinosinusitis in time, and, as a consequence, to prescribe a treatment.

Treatment: This review describes conservative therapies, including antibiotics and glucocorticosteroids. Today, the main task of doctors is to find the most effective method of administration of glucocorticosteroids to achieve the maximum effect. One of these methods is the introduction of the drug with the help of nebulizer, as in this case, the drug will remain in the perirhinal cavity for a long time and have the maximum effect due to the directed action only in the area of the pathological process.

Features of chronic polypous rhinosinusitis in childhood: It should be noted that children under 12 years of age due to the formation of the paranasal sinuses at different stages of ontogenesis will be characterized by different forms of chronic polyposis rhinosinusitis. That is why they should be known and taken into account when making a diagnosis and prescribing a treatment.

Conclusion: Today, the frequency of chronic rhinosinusitis increases exponentially, which makes the question of the modern approach to its treatment the most relevant. It is possible that additional research in this area will solve the issue of searching for both the optimal path of therapy and treatment of CPR in children.