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Published on: August 7, 2017

Adenoidectomy during early life and the risk of asthma

Petri S Mattila1, Sari Hammarén-Malmi, Jussi Tarkkanen

  • 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. petri.mattila@hus.fi

Pediatric Allergy and Immunology : Official Publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
|December 3, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Children who undergo adenoidectomy (surgical removal of the adenoids) before age 4 face an increased risk of developing asthma. This association may stem from underlying factors common to both conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Otolaryngology
  • Allergology

Background:

  • Adenoidectomy is a common procedure in children, often performed for conditions like glue ear or recurrent otitis media.
  • A potential link between adenoidectomy and the subsequent development of asthma has been observed but requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the association between undergoing an adenoidectomy and the risk of developing asthma in pediatric populations.
  • To explore if the timing of adenoidectomy influences asthma risk.

Main Methods:

  • Two distinct surveys were conducted: a nationwide questionnaire study (Survey A) and a hospital discharge record analysis (Survey B).
  • Survey A involved 483 participants, while Survey B analyzed records of 1616 children who had adenoidectomies and 161 controls.
  • Asthma diagnoses were confirmed via national asthma registers in Survey B.

Main Results:

  • Survey A indicated that adenoidectomy before age 4 was linked to a higher risk of asthma (OR 3.19) and animal dust allergy (OR 2.50).
  • Survey B revealed a significant association between early-age adenoidectomy and an increased risk of asthma (OR 6.74).
  • The risk of asthma was notably higher in children who underwent adenoidectomy due to recurrent otitis media.

Conclusions:

  • A significant association exists between adenoidectomy and an increased risk of asthma in children.
  • The findings suggest a potential underlying predisposition to both recurrent otitis media and asthma, influencing the decision for adenoidectomy.

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