Quality of life after tonsillectomy in children with recurrent tonsillitis.
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.
Goldstein
Nira A
NA
Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA. ngoldstein@downstate.edu
Stewart
Michael G
MG
Witsell
David L
DL
Hannley
Maureen T
MT
Weaver
Edward M
EM
Yueh
Bevan
B
Smith
Timothy L
TL
Orvidas
Laura J
LJ
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