Investigation of Helicobacter pylori colonization in pharyngeal and palatine tonsils with rapid urease test and immunohistochemical analysis

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the presence and frequency of Helicobacter pylori in palatine and pharyngeal tonsil tissues of children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 20 patients (15 males, 5 females; mean age 8.2 years; range 5 to 13 years) with chronic or recurrent tonsillitis and/or snoring. Of these, 17 patients underwent adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy, two patients underwent adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy with bilateral ventilation tube insertion, and one patient underwent adenoidectomy with bilateral ventilation tube insertion. H. pylori colonization was sought in all tonsillar specimens by rapid urease test and immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: Rapid urease test showed H. pylori colonization in the palatine and pharyngeal tonsil specimens of one patient (5%), whereas immunohistochemical analysis showed four H. pylori-positive patients (20%), whose pharyngeal tonsil (n=2) or palatine tonsil (n=2) specimens were individually affected. CONCLUSION: The presence of H. pylori in both palatine and pharyngeal tonsil tissues of children suggests that these tissues can be a reservoir for H. pylori.