Role of an anti-acetonemic diet in reducing the need for tonsillectomy in children with recurrent tonsillitis.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an anti-acetonemic diet in reducing the need for tonsillectomy especially in the first years of life in children with recurrent tonsillitis.

METHODS

From 2002 to 2005 we carried out a prospective randomized study enrolling 1200 children aged 2-10 who were referred to our outpatient services complaining of recurrent tonsillitis. Children were randomly assigned to the case group or to the control group. In case children, clinical signs of persistent ketosis were investigated and a hypolipidic anti-acetonemic diet was prescribed. We compared the mean age of children who underwent tonsillectomy and evaluated the association between an anti-acetonemic diet and avoidance of tonsillectomy.

RESULTS

The association between an anti-acetonemic diet and avoidance of tonsillectomy was statistically significant; the mean age of case children who underwent tonsillectomy resulted significantly higher than that of control children.

CONCLUSION

By prescribing an appropriate dietetic regimen we obtained a significant decrease in the number of tonsillectomies for recurrent tonsillitis and an increase in the mean age of the children treated surgically.