A Comparative Study of Vitamin D3 Insufficiency with Recurrent Tonsillopharyngitis and Without Tonsillopharyngitis

Introduction: This study aims to determine the occurrence of vitamin D3 deficiency in children suffering from repeated episodes of pharyngotonsillitis. The research investigates importance of vitamin D in enhancing innate immunity through the production of surface antimicrobial peptides and its role in preventing bacterial biofilm formation. Materials and Methods : This is a case control type of Qualitative Type of Study . In this study, 164 participants aged 5-15 years were categorized into two groups: one with 82 individuals experiencing recurrent pharyngitis, and the other with 82 individuals not having recurrent tonsillitis; their relevant information was recorded using a special form during an outpatient visit, including serum Vitamin D3 level assessment, and participants were subsequently categorized into three groups based on their Vitamin D3 levels (Deficient, Insufficient, and Normal) . No Follow up was required. Results : In this study, we categorized children into three groups based on their Vitamin D3 levels: those with normal, insufficient, and deficient levels. Among the 82 control cases,most had normal levels, and none were deficient, with an average level of 40.67. Onthe other hand, among the 82 cases with recurrent tonsillitis, only 8 had normal levels, while many had insufficient and deficient levels, resulting in a significantly lower average level of 22.6. Factors like age, gender, and Tonsillar Grade did not show any significant correlations with Vitamin D3 levels. However, the substantial mean difference of -18.0549 between the control and recurrent tonsillitis groups suggests a potential association between low Vitamin D3 levels and the occurrence of recurrent tonsillitis in children. Conclusion : The study found a strong link between low Vitamin D3 levels and the higher occurrence of recurrent tonsillitis in children. Children with recurrent tonsillitis had significantly lower Vitamin D3 levels compared to those without the condition, even after considering age, gender, and tonsillar enlargement. This suggests that Vitamin D3 deficiency or insufficiency may be a risk factor for recurrent tonsillitis in children, highlighting the need for further research to understand this relationship better. Nevertheless, these findings underscore the importance of assessing Vitamin D3 levels in the management of recurrent tonsillitis in pediatric patients. Keywords: Vitamin D3 , Recurrent Pharyngotonsillitis , Tonsil Grade