Related Experiment Videos
The effect of recurrent tonsillitis and tonsillectomy on growth in childhood
A E Camilleri1, K MacKenzie, S Gatehouse
1Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
Insights
Children undergoing tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis showed normal pre-operative growth. Post-surgery, however, these children experienced increased weight gain, suggesting overweight as a potential complication.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Growth and Development Studies
Background:
- Recurrent tonsillitis is a common pediatric condition often treated with tonsillectomy.
- Concerns exist regarding the growth and development of children with recurrent tonsillitis.
- Pre-operative and post-operative growth patterns following tonsillectomy require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess if children with recurrent tonsillitis exhibit smaller stature than expected prior to tonsillectomy.
- To evaluate height and weight gain one year after tonsillectomy in pediatric patients.
- To identify potential growth alterations and complications associated with tonsillectomy.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 204 children undergoing tonsillectomy (with or without adenoidectomy) had height and weight measured pre-operatively and one year post-operatively.
- A control group of 2204 children from local schools was used for comparison.
- Growth data for both groups were analyzed against standard Tanner growth charts.
Main Results:
- Children listed for tonsillectomy were not significantly smaller or lighter than expected before the procedure.
- One year after tonsillectomy, a notable increase in weight gain was observed in the study population.
- No significant difference in height gain was found compared to expected growth patterns post-operation.
Conclusions:
- Recurrent tonsillitis and subsequent tonsillectomy do not appear to be associated with pre-operative growth deficits.
- Increased weight gain, potentially leading to overweight, may be a medium-term complication following tonsillectomy.
- The findings suggest a need to re-evaluate the indications for tonsillectomy in obese children.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to determine if children with recurrent tonsillitis are smaller than expected before tonsillectomy and if they have an altered height or weight gain 1 year post-operatively. All (204) children attending the hospital for tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy had their height and weight measured pre-operatively and 1 year after operation. The results of 2204 children in local schools were used as a control population. Analysis was by comparison of each population with the Tanner charts. This study suggests that our population of children listed for tonsillectomy were not lighter or smaller than expected before operation but that one year after tonsillectomy, there was an increase in their weight gain. The height gain was no different than expected after operation. Overweight seems to be a medium term complication of tonsillectomy. It may be necessary to redefine the indications for tonsillectomy in children who are already obese.