A Dutch study has found that surgery to remove the tonsils may not be the most cost-effective treatment option for children.
The University Medical Center Utrecht observed three hundred between 2000 and 2003. These children were between the ages of two and eight and were suffering from moderate throat infections. Half of the children were chosen to have their tonsils and/or adenoids removed. The other half were assigned to “watchful waiting” — close monitoring of symptoms and interventions where necessary. Researchers checked on the children and families at three month intervals for two years.
In the watchful waiting group, annual health care costs relating to throat infections were around five hundred dollars. In the surgical group, annual health care costs relating to throat infections were more than seven hundred dollars.
However, children who had the surgery ended up suffering fewer fevers, throat infections, and respiratory tract infections than the watchful waiting group.
Looking at things from a purely financial view, the Dutch researchers determined that the surgery was not very cost effective. They determined that the balance between cost and effect for the surgery group was “unfavorable” — between parental leave of absence, hospital bills, and other expenses.
In the long term, the health of the two groups is expected to even out. As a child’s immune system matures, the tonsils and adenoids become less important in preventing disease. So even though the surgical group had fewer episodes of illness following surgery, the watchful waiting group will end up with average health into their teens and beyond.
The bottom line? The initial cost of the surgery may never be “repaid” or counterbalanced by the absence of future illnesses. Does this mean that surgery is not right for your child? That is up to you and your health care professional. Better health in childhood may well be worth the initial cost of the surgery.