A retrospective analysis of adenoidal size in children with allergic rhinitis and nonallergic idiopathic rhinitis.

Abstract

Our results suggest that there could be a cellular immune deficiency in allergic children which effects the enlargement of the pharyngeal tonsils. This might be explained with the hypothesis that allergic patients have a deficiency in T-helper 1 cell activity and interferon-gamma production. Larger studies which compare the cytokine profiles of children with AR and with nonallergic IR, will clarify the role of recurrent respiratory infection which is a real problem in clinical practice with allergy.