PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF CHRONIC ADENOTONSILLITIS IN LATE CHILDHOOD

AL-Nasher M1, Soad A 2, EL-Gamal H A1, Soliman N.

1 Medical Department, Institute of Postgraduate Childhood Studies, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

2 Pychiatric Department Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University

 

Objective: To study the effects of chronic adenotonsillitis its possible upper airway obstruction in late childhood and to determine the effect of severity and duration of upper air way obstruction in chronic adenotonsillitis on psychology of the affected children.

Methods: This study was conducted on 83 children (age 7-12 years) suffering from chronic adenotonsillitis of duration more than one year going for adenotonsillectomy besides 30 apparently normal children as a control full general, otorhinolaryngologic and psychiatric evaluation, according to DSM- IV criteria, were done for all children. Also, psychometric studies were done preoperatively and 5-6 months after surgery.

Results: Psychiatric morbidity in the study group was 39.75 % in contrast to 16.66% in the control group. Attention deficit disorder, opposition defiant disorder and nocturnal enuresis were significant among the cases than the controls and showed gradual increase with the severity and duration of upper airway obstruction, both attention deficit disorder and nocturnal enuresis showed significant decrease after surgery also significant improvement on attention problem immaturity, motor tension and conduct disorder subscales.

Conclusion: Upper airway obstruction in children is associated with externalizing behaviors in term of inattention, hyperactivity and opposition -alism.

 

 
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