Seven in Eight Children's Tonsillectomies Are Unnecessary

By Sondra Forsyth

A 2018 study done by the University of Birmingham in the has found that seven in every eight children who have their tonsils removed are unlikely to benefit from the operation.

Although the research was done in the UK, American parents would do well to heed the results.

The researchers analyzed the electronic medical records of over 1.6 million children from more than 700 UK general practices dating between 2005 and 2016. They found that out of 18,271 children who had their tonsils removed during this time, only 2,144 (11.7 per cent) had enough sore throats to justify surgery.

ANNUALLY 3,500 CHLDREN UNDERGO NEEDLESS TONSILECTOMIES

The researchers at the University’s Institute of Applied Health Research concluded that their evidence, published November 6th in British Journal of General Practice, showed that annually 32,500 children undergo needless tonsillectomies at a cost to UK’s National Health Service of £36.9 million, the equivalent of $47,387,279.

On the other hand the team found that many children who might benefit from having their tonsils removed are not having the surgical procedure. The researchers found that of 15,764 children who had records showing sufficient sore throats to undergo a tonsillectomy, just 2,144 (13.6 per cent) actually went on to have one.

Current UK health policy, based on the best scientific evidence, is that to meet the criteria to benefit from a tonsillectomy children must suffer from either more than seven documented sore throats in a year; more than five sore throats per year for two successive years; or three sore throats per year for three successive years.

The researchers found that, of those who had undergone a tonsillectomy, 12.4 per cent had reported five to six sore throats in a year; 44.7 per cent had suffered two to four sore throats in a year; and 9.9 per cent had just one sort throat in a year.

Tom Marshall, Professor or Public Health and Primary Care at the University of Birmingham, said, “Research shows that children with frequent sore throats usually suffer fewer sore throats over the next year or two. In those children with enough documented sore throats, the improvement is slightly quicker after tonsillectomy, which means surgery is justified.

“But research suggests children with fewer sore throats don’t benefit enough to justify surgery, because the sore throats tend to go away anyway.

TREATMENT NOT JUSTIFIED

“Our research showed that most children who had their tonsils removed weren’t severely enough affected to justify treatment, while on the other hand, most children who were severely enough affected with frequent sore throats did not have their tonsils removed. The pattern changed little over the 12 year period.

“Children may be more harmed than helped by a tonsillectomy. We found that even among severely affected children only a tiny minority of them ever have their tonsils out. It makes you wonder if tonsillectomy ever is really essential in any child.”