Recurrent Throat Infections and Tonsillectomy

Oulu University Hospital87 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to find out if tonsillectomy reduces the short-term risk of having an objectively confirmed (sequential changes in serum crp and procalcitonin levels) delayed pharyngitis episode among patients suffering from recurrent pharyngitis episodes. Other aims are to find out the effect of tonsillectomy to reduce the number of pharyngitis episodes or symptoms. Still, the possible disadvantages of tonsillectomy and changes in the quality of life after tonsillectomy among these patients are examined.

We will have a prospective randomized study. We allocated 87 consecutive patients referred for tonsillectomy randomly in two groups: tonsilectomy group or waiting list(control group). Patients in tonsillectomy group were operated as soon as possible and data on postoperative morbidity was collected. In the control group, patients were placed on our normal waiting list and they were operated on in normal time (about 5-6 months). The data on preoperative morbidity was collected. All the pharyngitis episodes were treated by a study investigator and laboratory tests (crp, procalcitonin) were taken at that time and after three days. In addition, the patients record their symptoms on a diary.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Tonsillitis Pharyngitis

Interventions

TonsillectomyPROCEDURE

Tonsillectomy under general anesthesia as a day surgery using diathermy or blunt dissection. Follow up started from the day of surgery.

no interventionOTHER

No intervention (controls). Follow up started from the day of randomization.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 13 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients selected among the cases referred to tonsillectomy for recurrent pharyngitis episodes to a tertiary care university ENT clinic (Oulu, Finland). * At least three pharyngitis episodes difficult enough for the patients to seek for medical attention during the past 12 months Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with other serious diseases (day surgery not feasible) * Patients having long time antibiotic treatment for other disease * Patients diagnosed to have peritonsillar abscess * Pregnancy * Age of 12 or under * Patients living outside Oulu or its 8 neighbouring cities (day surgery not feasible) * Patients suffering only from halitosis or bacterial plugs of palatine tonsils

Locations (1)

Oulu University Hospital

Oulu, Finland

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Absolute percentage difference between groups of patients having pharyngitis with delayed recovery time defined by symptoms and blood sample values (crp, procalcitonin)