Małgorzata Dębska

Dysfunction of peripheral blood granulocyte oxidative metabolism in children with recurrent upper respiratory tract infections.

Granulocytes play a key role in the defence against bacterial infections. Their dysfunction may both predispose to and result from infections. The oxidative metabolism of peripheral blood granulocytes was studied in 50 children aged from 1 to 10 years, with recurrent upper respiratory tract infections and/or tonsillar hypertrophy. Four groups of patients were recruited: 15 healthy controls, seven patients with idiopathic tonsillar hypertrophy, 12 patients with upper respiratory tract infections and 16 patients with upper respiratory tract infections with concurrent tonsillar hypertrophy. The ability of granulocytes to produce reactive oxygen species was assessed by nFMLP-induced chemiluminescence. Both increased and depressed granulocyte activity was observed in all studied groups, with the exception of controls. Altered granulocyte function was observed in 30% of patients in the idiopathic tonsillar hypertrophy group. In children with recurrent infections abnormal chemiluminescence results were found in from 75% to nearly 90% of patients. This preliminary study demonstrates the possible relationship between recurrent upper respiratory tract infections, tonsillar hypertrophy and impaired peripheral blood granulocyte chemiluminescence.

Body build—is it a factor in acute subglottic laryngitis?

Acute subglottic laryngitis (pseudocroup) is caused by viral infection and usually occurs in children from 6 months to 4 years of age. Obese children are considered to be more susceptible to the disease. In order to evaluate the influence of nutritional status on acute subglottic laryngitis occurrence, an analysis of 193 patients was performed. A group of 70 age-matched healthy children served as the control subjects. The nutritional status of children (body weight and height) was assessed and their percentile positions on the weight and weight-height charts were determined. The recurrence of pseudocroup coexistence of allergy and breast-feeding history were considered in the study. Results of statistical analysis indicate no significant difference in weight and weight-height percentile distribution between patients group and controls. The recent changes in child nutrition might be the explanation of decreased susceptibility to pseudocroup among overfed children.

LINGUAL TONSIL HYPERTROPHY AS A CAUSE OF OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA SYNDROME – CASE REPORT

the hypertrophy of the lingual tonsil (Lth) could be the cause of obstructive sleep apnea in children. this disorder may cause obstructive sleep apnea (osa) and also may lead to a life-threatening obstruction of the upper airway. Lingual tonsil hypertrophy is more frequently described in adults. Lth often occurs in children with prior palatine tonsillectomies or adenoidectomies. diagnosis of lingual tonsil hypertrophy in patients with osa requires a careful ent examination by advanced technologic methods. the sleep apnea is successfully treated by lingual tonsillectomy, with or without tracheotomy. tracheostomy allows the obstructive airway with postoperative oedema to be bypassed. in this study we present the case of a child with persistent syndroms of a sleep apnea. patient underwent six adenotonsillectomies in the past. ent examination and ct scans showed that symptoms of osa were caused by lingual tonsil hypertrophy. patient was treated with a lingual tonsillectomy with tracheotomy and it was an effective treatment for this case.