Assessment of allergy and immunity in children in relation to tonsillectomy

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of adenotonsillectomy on the immune system and the allergic status of three groups of children. Twenty-one non allergic children and twenty- seven asthmatic children suffering from repeated attacks of sore throat and ten normal school children were included in this study. Immunoglobulins assay [IgA, IgG, IgE] in the peripheral blood total eosinophilic count and allergic skin test were performed to all of them pre and post adenotonsillectomy.A significant drop in B- lymphocyte percentage and serum IgG after tonsillectomy was observed and was attributed to the removal of the septic source of infection and to the reduction in the antigenic load otherwise no significant drop in other serum immunoglobulin not in T and B lymphocyte percentage. Postoperative follow up showed that tonsillectomy when properly indicated improved the general health as well as reduced the frequency of sore throat attacks in the majority of patients even in allergic ones