| Summary: | Aim:To evaluate the prevalence of adenotonsillar Actinomyces with histopathological findings and to determine the relationship of Actinomyces with allergic rhinitis (AR), adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) and chronic recurrent tonsillitis (CRT).Materials and Methods:Histopathological sections were retrospectively analyzed in 228 patients who underwent adenoidectomy, bilateral tonsillectomy, and adenotonsillectomy. The presence of Actinomyces, cryptitis, and severity of inflammation were determined. Data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for the Social v.21.0 package software. The statistical significance level was accepted as p<0.05.Results:Actinomyces was detected in 39 (17.1%) patients. Actinomyces was seen at a similar rate in ATH and CRT (p=0.08) (14.6% and 24.6%, respectively). The diameter of the tonsils with Actinomyces were larger than those without Actinomyces (p<0.01). The frequency of cryptitis in tonsils with Actinomyces histopathologically (p=0.03) and the degree of inflammation in the surface epithelium (p<0.01) were increased. Actinomyces was found more frequently in patients with AR than in patients without AR (p=0.02) (25.7% and 13%, respectively).Conclusion:Our study shows that adenotonsillar Actinomyces colonization may cause ATH, CRT and AR, and AR may be one of the factors in the etiology of ATH.
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