title: The role of OM-85 BV (Broncho-Vaxom) in preventing recurrent acute tonsillitis in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of an immunostimulant (bacterial lysate) Broncho-Vaxom in the management of children with recurrent acute tonsillitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 5-year retrospective cohort study of 177 children presenting with a diagnosis of recurrent acute tonsillitis. Patients' demographics and laboratory studies at presentation were retrieved. For patients given Broncho-Vaxom, we defined response as a decrease in the frequency of acute tonsillitis episodes after 3 months of therapy (partial: by ≤50% and total: by >50%). Patients showing response to Broncho-Vaxom were further followed until study-end or need for tonsillectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age of patients was 4.5 years (range: 1-15 years) with 63.8% being males. 131 (74%) patients received Broncho-Vaxom as initial therapy, and 99 (75.6%) showed response (51.2% total and 24.4% partial response). A normal ESR level was the only predictor of total compared with no response (OR: 3.53, 95% CI: 1.03-12.07); while both normal ESR (OR: 7.15-times, 95% CI: 1.18-43.39) and normal CRP (OR: 12.66, 95% CI: 1.43-111.86) levels were independent predictors of total over partial response. None of the patients showing total response required tonsillectomy on long-term follow up while in those with partial response 34.4% required subsequent tonsillectomy (median follow-up: 9 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A considerable proportion of children receiving Broncho-Vaxom for recurrent acute tonsillitis show a decrease in the frequency of episodes in the short term, and very few patients eventually require tonsillectomy on long-term follow up.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon. mb36@aub.edu.lb
authors: Mohamed A
authors: MA
authors: Bitar
authors: Rami
authors: R
authors: Saade
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002457:Cell Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000095983:Bacterial Lysates
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002457:Cell Extracts; C030259:Broncho-Vaxom; D000095983:Bacterial Lysates