title: Influence of sensitization to inhalative allergens on adenotonsillar disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine the influence of IgE-mediated sensitization on adenotonsillar disease in children. We compared follow-up after tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy of atopic and nonatopic children.Study design and setting A prospective study of 293 children consecutively undergoing tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy was conducted at a university hospital center. Preoperative and postoperative (1-year follow-up) allergy-related symptom scores were obtained by parents. Intraoperative total serum IgE, the screening test sx1 (Pharmacia), and, if positive, serum specific IgE to inhalative allergens were carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-seven children (22.9%) showed positive RAST results to inhalative allergens (class 1 to 6). In both sensitized and nonsensitized groups, the general health was improved in more than 89% at 1 year postoperatively. No significant difference of postoperative nasal symptoms between the atopic and nonatopic groups was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both atopic and nonatopic children with adenotonsillar disease improve health after adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy. In our opinion, routine allergy tests before adenotonsillectomy or adenoidectomy are not justified. Only if allergy is suspected due to clinical findings or family history should an allergy test be carried out.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, University Hospital Graz, Austria. thiemo.hofmann@kfunigraz.ac.at
authors.forename: Thiemo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lackner
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berghold
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lang-Loidolt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D007109:Immunity / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D001239:Inhalation / Q000276:immunology*; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E