1Karam M Maklad, 2Heba H El-Sedfy, 3Sahar S Ahmed, 1Sahar S Abdel Aziz, 2Waleid M Allam And 2Sherein M Abdel-Fattah.
Departments Of 1Parasitology, 2Pediartics and 3Pathology, Faculty Of Medicine, Ain Shams University.
Toxoplasma gondii is an ubiquitous intracellular protozoan parasite that infects virtually every eucaryotic cell. The study aims to identify the role of T. gondii as a cause of chronic tonsillitis. Eighty children were included in this study, divided into three groups, group 1: 30 children presenting with non-suppurative chronically enlarged tonsils; group 2: 30 children suffering from generalized lymphadenopathy and group 3: 20 healthy children of matched age and sex. Children were examined clinically and parasitologically. Complete blood picture (CBP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were done. Sera of all cases were screened for T. gondii IgG antibodies by ELISA. Histopathological examination of available tonsils removed during tonsillectomy was performed. The results revealed 23.3%, 33.3% and 20% seropositivity for Toxoplasma IgG antibodies in the three groups respectively. In group 1, there was a statistically significant increase in white blood cell count and a significant rise in ESR in seronegative cases versus seropositive ones while in group 2, Hb% was significantly higher in seropositive than seronegative cases. Progressive enlargement of a cervical lymph node and a rising specific Toxoplasma IgG titer were observed one month after tonsillectomy in one child. A biopsy was taken which proved the histopathological picture of Toxoplasma infection. The results showed that T.gondii infection can be considered in the differential diagnosis of chronic tonsillitis especially when WBC count and ESR are within normal range.