Investigation the Psycho-Behavioral Characteristics of Children with Adenotonsillar Hypertrophy after Adenotonsillectomy

Considering the negative consequences of adenotonsillar hypertrophy on behavioral function and psychological characteristics of children, the aim of this study was to compare the psycho-behavioral characteristics of children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy before and after adenotonsillectomy.

The present research was a time-series study with before and after comparison. Statistical populations of this study were all children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy admitted to Dr. Fatemi Hospital of Ardabil city in 2019 year that among them 60 kids were selected by convenience sampling method. These participants were examined before and after adeno-tonsillectomy using the Rutter Children's Psycho-Behavioral Characteristics Questionnaire (Parent Form), in three stages: the initial stage (one week before surgery), the second stage (three months after surgery) and the third stage (6 months after surgery). Descriptive and inferential statistics (repeated measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni test) were used to analyze the data.

After adeno-tonsillectomy, the scores of aggression and hyperactivity components in children in the second stage (3 months after surgery) and the third stage (6 months after surgery) were decreased significantly compared to the first stage (before surgery). The scores related to the components of anxiety, depression and antisocial behaviors did not decrease significantly during the three months after surgery, but six months after surgery, the scores of these components showed a significant decrease. However, the scores related to the social incompatibility component did not show a significant difference in any stages of the study.

Based on the results of this study, there was a significant difference in some psychological and behavioral characteristics of children after adeno-tonsillectomy in comparison with before that.