TONSILLITIS, TONSILLECTOMY AND WEIGHT DISTURBANCE

To determine the relationship between tonsillitis, tonsillectomy and a bnormalities in body weight, we have analyzed pre-and post-operative w eights in a population of 55 children who underwent adenotonsillectomy in our department. Pre-operative mean weight was 9.8% heavier than th e standard mean normal weight for age and post-operative mean weight w as 22% greater than standard mean weight for age. The mean weight gain during the follow-up period was 12% greater than that which would be normally expected (p < 0.001). This study suggests that children under going tonsillectomy are slightly heavier than their peers and that fol lowing the procedure this discrepancy increases. (C) 1997 Elsevier Sci ence Ireland Ltd.