Role of Actinomyces and Helicobacter pylori in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) in Children.

Background: Obstructive hyperplasia causing obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is one of the most common conditions indicating tonsillectomy. Actinomycosis and H. pylori were assumed to have a role in tonsillar hyperplasia causing OSAS Purpose: Study the presence of Actinomyces and H. pylori in tonsils removed in children with OSAS. Methods: 50 children scheduled for tonsillectomy, all of these children had OSAS ± symptomatic adenoid enlargement. One tonsil, choosed randomly divided with a sterile blade into two parts: one half to be sent to pathology department (pathological examination) and the other half to clinical pathology (Rapid urease test and PCR). Results: Patients’ age was between 3 and 16 years (mean age was 5.38±2.74 years). 29 (61.7%) patients with Actinomyces in their tonsillar tissue were included in study group and 9 patients (64.7%) with H. pylori in their tonsillar tissue specimens were included in the second group. 3 patients were excluded from the study in whom both Actinomyces and H. pylori. Conclusion: The size of tonsils was significantly larger among cases with positive results to Actinomyces in comparison to cases to H. pylori. Further studies are needed to assure the role of actinomyces in pediatric tonsillar hypertrophy and whether control of Actinomycyes may reverse the problem or not.