Quality of life after tonsillectomy in children with recurrent tonsillitis

• Published in: Otolaryngology-head and neck surgery Vol. 138; no. 1; pp. S9 - S16
• Main Authors: Goldstein, Nira A., Stewart, Michael G., Witsell, David L., Hannley, Maureen T., Weaver, Edward M., Yueh, Bevan, Smith, Timothy L., Orvidas, Laura J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA Mosby, Inc 2008; SAGE Publications
• Subjects: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Chronic Disease; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Health Status; Humans; Male; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Recurrence; Tonsillectomy; Tonsillitis - psychology; Tonsillitis - surgery; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0194-5998; 1097-6817
• DOI: 10.1016/j.otohns.2006.12.029

To describe changes in disease-specific and global quality of life (QOL) for children with recurrent or chronic tonsillitis at 6 months and 1 year after tonsillectomy using two validated instruments, the Tonsil and Adenoid Health Status Instrument (TAHSI) and the Child Health Questionaire-PF28 (CHQ-PF28).
A multicenter, prospective observational outcomes study.
Ninety-two children, mean age (SD) 10.6 (3.4) years, enrolled with follow-up available for 58 children at 6 months and 38 children at 1 year. The children showed significant improvements in all subscales of the TAHSI including airway and breathing, infection, health care utilization, cost of care, eating and swallowing (all
P < 0.001), and behavior (
P = 0.01). Significant improvements were also found on several subscales of the CHQ-PF28, such as general health perceptions, physical functioning, parental impact, and family activities (all
P < 0.001).
This uncontrolled study provides prospective evidence of improved disease-specific and global QOL in children after tonsillectomy.