Efficacy of tonsillectomy in treatment of recurrent group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine whether children with tonsillectomies experienced fewer recurrent group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) infections after surgery compared with children who did not receive tonsillectomies.


METHODS
The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study of 290 children 4 to <16 years who experienced three or more episodes of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis at least 1 month apart in 12 months.


RESULTS
Children without tonsillectomy were 3.1 times (95% confidence interval, 1.9-4.9; P < .001) more likely to develop a subsequent group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis infection during follow up than children who underwent tonsillectomy after adjusting for the number of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis infections per patient within the previous year and the presence of preexisting conditions. Among the children who developed a subsequent group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis infection, the children without a tonsillectomy developed a group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngeal infection sooner (median, 0.6 vs. 1.1 years).


CONCLUSIONS
Tonsillectomy is associated with a decrease in the number of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis infections in children with a history of recurrent groups A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis infection. Tonsillectomy also increased the amount of time before development of further GABHS pharyngitis.
Orvidas
Laura J
LJ
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. orvidas.laura@mayo.edu
St Sauver
Jennifer L
JL
Weaver
Amy L
AL
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000601:surgery*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes; D014068:Tonsillectomy