title: Quality of life after tonsillectomy in children with recurrent tonsillitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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).
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicenter, prospective observational outcomes study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This uncontrolled study provides prospective evidence of improved disease-specific and global QOL in children after tonsillectomy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA. ngoldstein@downstate.edu
authors.forename: Nira A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Witsell
authors.forename: Maureen T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Hannley
authors.forename: Edward M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: Bevan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yueh
authors.forename: Timothy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Laura J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Orvidas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012008:Recurrence; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome