Waldeyer's ring and otitis media: the nasopharyngeal tonsil and otitis media.

This overview of the relationship between the nasopharyngeal tonsil and otitis media will review three important concepts: (1) Adenoid inflammation leads to inflammatory obstruction of the Eustachian tube; (2) early colonization of the adenoid with the three major bacterial pathogens of otitis media is the most important factor in the early pathogenesis of otitis media; (3) the local immune system in the adenoid particularly specific secretory IgA directed against both viruses and bacterial pathogens are probably genetically controlled and represent the immunological factor in protecting the host against invasion of these agents in the Eustachian tube and middle ear. This overview of the relationship between the adenoid and the development of otitis media emphasizes that nasopharyngeal colonization with the three major middle ear pathogens is among the most important risk factors in the pathogenesis of otitis media. Inasmuch as these pathogens normally reside in the nasopharynges of most healthy children, the factors which trigger development of otitis media need to be carefully evaluated. Among these two triggers are viral infections and upper respiratory tract allergy.