MYCOPLASMA AND CHLAMYDIA IN ADENOIDS AND TONSILS OF CHILDREN UNDERGOING ADENOIDECTOMY OR TONSILLECTOMY

The prevalence of mycoplasmal and chlamydial infection was assessed in 83 children undergoing adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, or both procedur es for recurrent adenotonsillitis or obstructive symptoms. Throat smea rs (surface specimens) and minced adenoids and tonsils (core specimens ) were cultured for Mycoplasma spp and for Chlamydia spp. Isolation ra tes in adenoidal specimens were as follows: Mycoplasma hominis, surfac e 7.1%, core 2.9%; and Ureaplasma urealyticum, surface 1.4%, core 2.9% . Mycoplasma hominis was also found in tonsillar specimens: surface 14 .3%, core 20%. Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated only from a single c ore adenoidal specimen. The rate of mycoplasma isolation was significa ntly higher in children with recurrent adenotonsillitis (34.5%) than i n those with obstructive symptoms (3.7%). Our findings document coloni zation of genital mycoplasmas in adenoids and tonsils of children with recurrent adenotonsillitis. Further studies are needed to evaluate th e possible pathogenetic role of these microorganisms in adenotonsillar infection.