Inflammatory Mediators of Hypertrophic Adenoids in Children with Otitis Media with Effusion

Adenoid is lymphoid tissues in the pharynx that play an important role in host defense against invading antigens. The structures of adenoid consist of well-defined microcompartments which all participate in the immune response: the follicular germinal center, the mantle zone, the interfollicular area and the crypt epithelium. Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a common middle ear disease in children, but etiology of this disease is not clearly understood. Immunologic reaction within adenoid, pro-inflammatory cytokines (Th1 and Th2), decrease of lymphocytes T and B, metaloproteinase may lead to chronic infection. Review Article