Regulatory T lymphocytes are associated with increased nasopharyngeal colonization in children.

Objectives: Regulatory T lymphocytes (T) have been linked to survival of commensal bacteria at mucosal sites, but their presence and role in chronic otitis media (COM) and their response to otopathogens has not been evaluated previously. We investigated the association between T lymphocytes and otopathogens in COM prone and non-COM prone children.

Methods: Forty children, 2-7 years of age, scheduled for adenoidectomy were enrolled into COM (n = 20) or non-COM (n = 20) groups.