DEPRESSION IN CHILDREN AFTER TONSILLECTOMY

Postoperative depression has been reported in adults undergoing open h eart surgery and mastectomy. Tonsillectomy is a commonly performed pro cedure and can be associated with significant morbidity including pain , difficulty swallowing, dehydration, and bleeding. While adults may b e able to express their feelings about the postoperative course, child ren often are unable to express themselves. Because postoperative depr ession may manifest itself in unusual behavior that is dismissed as '' expected,'' it may go unrecognized. We present three case reports in w hich the child demonstrated signs of depression following tonsillectom y. We believe that depression following tonsillectomy occurs more freq uently than has been recognized. We describe the diagnosis and managem ent of posttonsillectomy depression to increase the otolaryngologist's awareness of this entity.