Otitis media and immunological alterations of Waldeyer's ring.

In the literature, correlations between adenoids and middle ear disorders have been widely discussed over the years. Adenoids fundamentally influence inflammation/infections of the middle ear through 3 factors: obstructive, inflammatory/infective, and immunologic. The authors carefully analyze each of these factors reviewing the opinion of the most important researches in the field. The important role of immunological (T cells and Ig), infective (micro-organisms and bacterial biofilms) and allergic factors as predisposing factors for otitis media leads one to consider the importance of a medical treatment oriented to correction of the infective and immunological disorders in children with OM, without adenoids hypertrophy. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel