Association of allergy, asthma and IgE sensitisation to adenoidectomy and infections in children.

Objective: To find out whether previous adenoidectomy is associated with asthma, allergic symptoms or allergen-specific IgE antibodies. RECRUITMENT AND METHODS: We recruited 213 paediatric patients admitted for elective tonsillectomy and 155 paediatric controls. Using a structured questionnaire, we recorded their respiratory symptoms, allergies, bronchial asthma and environmental factors. Serum IgE antibodies against respiratory allergens were screened. Patients were divided into those previously adenoidectomised (n = 100) or not adenoidectomised (n = 113).

Results: Any allergy (p = 0.007) and non-antibiotic allergy diagnosed by a doctor (p = 0.015), and asthma (p = 0.015) were more common among adenoidectomised than non-adenoidectomised children under the age of seven. Between ages 7 and 11, neither any kind of allergy nor asthma were associated with earlier adenoidectomy. In the oldest age group (12 to 17), only antibiotic allergy was more common in adenoidectomised children. Recurrent otitis media (p < 0.001) and recurrent sinusitis (p = 0.007) were more common in adenoidectomised children. After controlling for recurrent respiratory infections, doctor-diagnosed allergy remained significantly associated with adenoidectomy in the youngest age group. Prevalence of specific IgE did not differ between the patient groups, or between school-aged patients and controls.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that hypersensitivity disorders and infections may share aetiological factors. However, as adenoidectomised children of any age did not have higher levels of specific IgE, it seems possible that allergy is either clinically over-diagnosed or insufficiently detected by serology among young adenoidectomised children.