Objective
The role of virus in acute airway infections is well established. Nevertheless, their importance in chronic infections is still being discussed. Objectives: To identify the virus present in palatine and pharyngeal tonsils of patients submitted to adenotonsillectomy due to chronic tonsillitis, and to evaluate if there is any relationship between virus infection and tonsillar hypertrophy.
Method
18 patients with tonsillar hypertrophy and submitted to adenotonsillectomy were selected. Samples of pharyngeal and palatine tonsils were processed in Human Molecular Virology Laboratory (FMRP-USP) through PCR. The following respiratory viruses were analyzed: Rhinovirus, Adenovirus, Bocavirus, Influenzae, Parainfluenzae, Coronavirus (OC43 e 229E), and Respiratory Sincicial Virus (RSV).
Results
66% of samples had at least one virus detected. The most prevalent virus was Bocavirus (44%), followed by Adenovirus (27%), RSV (22%), Influenzae (5%) and Coronavirus OC43 (5%). Adenovirus was present only in pharyngeal tonsils. Co-infection was present in 27% of cases. The viral load was low, instead.
Conclusion
A high prevalence of virus was found in chronic tonsillitis through PCR, especially of Bocavirus. The low viral load could be explained by the weak replication, common in chronic processes. This is the first study to report Bocavirus presence in tonsils. These results suggest a possible correlation between virus infection and tonsils diseases.