Surgical treatment of acute recurrent throat infections in children.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to define the contribute of surgery and watchful waiting in the treatment of feverish episodes and other clinical manifestations related to acute recurrent throat infections in children.

METHODS

An observational, retrospective and multi-centric study was carried out on 407 subjects, aged 2-11, with a minimum two-year follow-up. Chi square test and Fisher's test were used for the statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Watchful waiting prevented, similarly to surgery, recurrences of feverish episodes, but did not favourably impact on other clinical manifestations (respiratory obstruction, otitis media, group A beta hemolyticus streptococcus positive laboratory findings) as compared to surgery (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The higher effectiveness of surgical treatment, as compared to watchful waiting, was documented in the study patients, considering all the clinical manifestations related to acute recurrent throat infections.