Quality of life and health status in pediatric tonsil and adenoid disease.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the baseline global health status and quality of life (QOL) in children with tonsil and adenoid disease.


METHODS
Cross-sectional multicenter survey series.


METHODS
A tertiary academic pediatric specialty hospital and a tertiary academic hospital in 2 different cities.


METHODS
Consecutive series of 55 parents of children who were seen for tonsil and adenoid disease. INTERVENTION AND METHOD: Cross-sectional survey of the health status of affected children to assess their QOL and its relationship to tonsil and adenoid disease.


METHODS
Quality-of-life subscale scores of affected children on the Child Health Questionnaire version PF28 (CHQ-PF28); comparisons of population data from healthy normal children and children with asthma and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.


RESULTS
The overall health status and QOL of children with tonsil and adenoid disease is significantly worse than those of healthy normal children, as demonstrated by lower mean scores on several CHQ-PF28 subscales, including general health, physical functioning, behavior, bodily pain, and parental impact (emotional). In addition, the general health perception of children with tonsil and adenoid disease is similar to the perceptions of children with asthma and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, but several aspects of health status, as measured by CHQ-PF28 subscale scores, were significantly worse in children with tonsil and adenoid disease.


CONCLUSIONS
The health status impact of tonsil and adenoid disease appears to be quite significant, particularly in aspects related to the parental impact of the child's disease.
Stewart
M G
MG
Bobby R. Alford Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Communicative Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex, USA.
Friedman
E M
EM
Sulek
M
M
Hulka
G F
GF
Kuppersmith
R B
RB
Harrill
W C
WC
Bautista
M H
MH
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases; D008297:Male; D014066:Palatine Tonsil; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases; D011788:Quality of Life