Background: The aim of this study is to highlight the growing incidence of oral cancer in young females without apparent traditional risk factors. Methods: We present a case series of young female patients with histopathologically diagnosed squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and no known exposure to major risk factors, reporting to our institution over one year. A review of the literature was carried out to find documented studies on oral cancer in young females. Results: We found an increase in the number of young female patients presenting with squamous cell carcinomas on the lateral border of the tongue who did not have any of the traditional risk factors associated with the disease, which is in contrast with the number of male patients presenting with the same disease. Conclusions: Our study highlights the increasing incidence of oral cancer in young females without apparent traditional risk factors, an area of growing concern. Published studies in this particular group are limited. Nevertheless, the situation is alarming owing to the seriousness this problem poses for the community. More research is required to determine the aetiological and risk factors associated with this outcome.

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BACKGROUND Pharyngotonsillitis is defined as a spectrum of conditions ranging from inflammation primarily confined to the tonsils to pharyngitis implying generalized inflammation of the whole of pharynx. Children are more prone to get several episodes of pharyngotonsillitis per year during their school years. Pharyngitis caused by Streptococcus pyogenes can cause two non-suppurative complications, acute rheumatic fever and acute glomerulonephritis which is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. The present study was conducted to identify the prevalence of bacterial pathogens causing pharyngotonsillitis and to study their antibiotic sensitivity pattern that would indicate the optimum line of treatment. METHOD A total of 200 children at the age group of 2 - 12 years who had clinical features of pharyngotonsillitis according to the inclusion criteria were recruited for this study over a period of one year. With the help of a disposable wooden spatula, pus from the pharyngo tonsillar region was collected and processed. Predominant isolates obtained were identified and antibiotic sensitivity was done. RESULTS Bacteria was isolated from 70 samples. Pharyngotonsillitis was found most prevalent at the age group of 8 – 10 years. Intake of cold food stuffs and passive smoking at home was found to have statistically significant association as risk factor for pharyngotonsillitis. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism isolated followed by Streptococcus pyogenes. The other organisms isolated were group G and C streptococci, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia sub species (spp) aerogenes. CONCLUSIONS Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism isolated, followed by Streptococcus pyogenes. All the isolates of beta haemolytic streptococci were found to be sensitive to penicillin. There was increased incidence of resistance to macrolides among the gram-positive isolates except Streptococcus pneumoniae and it may be due to the wide spread use of macrolides injudiciously. All the bacterial pharyngotonsillitis cases were cured with the antibiotic given according to the sensitivity except one case. KEYWORDS Pharyngotonsillitis, Acute Rheumatic Fever, Acute Glomerulonephritis, Bacterial Pathogens, Antibiogram

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