Colonization of Helicobacter pylori in Tonsillectomy Materials

Abstract

To detect the presence of Helicobacter pylori in tonsillar tissue, and to investigate the difference in Helicobacter pylori colonization in patients with tonsillary hypertrophy and chronic tonsillitis. One hundred twenty-two patients underwent tonsillectomy due to chronic tonsillitis. or tonsillary hypertrophy was included in our retrospective study. The tonsillectomy materials of the patients were stained with the Giemsa stain and evaluated under light microscopy. The data obtained in the study were evaluated statistically and results with a p-value of <0.05 were accepted as significant. The mean age of the patients included in the study was 11.9 years. Ninety-three (76.2%) patients were in the pediatric age group, and 29 (23.8%) were adults. Fifty-five (45.1%) patients were female and 67 (54.9) were male. Eighty patients underwent tonsillectomy due to tonsillary hypertrophy and 42 due to chronic tonsillitis. In our study, the presence of Helicobacter pylori was detected in 21 (17.2%) patients. The presence of Helicobacter pylori colonization in patients with chronic tonsillitis and tonsillary hypertrophy indicates that tonsils are an extra-stomach reservoir for Helicobacter pylori.