Adenoid infection: its relationship to otitis media, glue ear and tonsillitis.

In a prospective study, 69 children admitted for adenoidectomy were divided into 4 subgroups according to their symptomatology. These were: nasal obstruction alone; glue ear; recurrent ear aches and probable otitis media; and recurrent sore throats and probable tonsillitis. The adenoids removed were bacteriologically analysed to assess both the spectrum of organisms present and the colony counts per gram of adenoid tissue (10(5) organisms per gram was regarded as representing infection). There was no significant difference between the subgroups with regard to either the presence of infection or the spectrum of organisms grown. We conclude that while infection in the adenoid bed must be involved in the pathogenesis of bacterial otitis media, the concentration of organisms present in the adenoids is unimportant and other factors must be responsible for the migration of organisms up the Eustachian tube.