Numbers of children with potential indications for tonsillectomy, annual incidence of potential indications, and the proportions of these children undergoing tonsillectomy, 2005 to 2016
| Recorded indication for tonsillectomya | Number with this indication | Proportion with this indication undergoing tonsillectomy, % | Proportion of all tonsillectomies attributable to this indication, % | Average annual incidence of this indication (per 100 000 person–years) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evidence-based | Tonsillar tumour | 5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 |
| Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and cervical adenitis syndrome (PFAPA) | 435 | 3.4 | 0.1 | 8.5 | |
| Paradise criteriab | 15 320 | 13.9 | 11.6 | 412.8 | |
| Non evidence-based | Obstructive sleep apnoea | 3185 | 22.2 | 3.9 | 65.9 |
| Other sleep disordered breathing | 15 205 | 14.8 | 12.3 | 369.9 | |
| Peritonsillar abscess | 675 | 14.8 | 0.5 | 14.9 | |
| Recurrent sore throats: five to six in 1 yearc | 25 420 | 8.9 | 12.4 | 840.4 | |
| Recurrent sore throats: two to four in 1 year with guttate or chronic plaque psoriasisc | 939 | 3.7 | 0.2 | 21.3 | |
| Recurrent sore throats: two to four in 1 year with glomerulonephritisc | 148 | 4.7 | 0.0 | 3.5 | |
| Recurrent sore throats: three to four in 1 yearc | 170 687 | 3.2 | 30.1 | 5869.1 | |
| Recurrent sore throats: two in 1 yearc | 251 247 | 1.0 | 14.3 | 12 321.6 | |
| Recurrent sore throats: one in 1 yearc | 446 275 | 0.4 | 9.9 | 27 896.5 | |
| No indication identified | 701 266 | 0.1 | 4.7 | n/a | |
| Total | 1 630 807 | 1.1 | 100.0 | n/a | |
↵a If a child meets criteria for several indications, the indication higher in the hierarchy is counted.
↵b Paradise criteria: Recurrent sore throats or upper respiratory tract infections: seven or more a year; five or more yearly for 2 years; three or more yearly for 3 years.
↵c Broad definition of sore throat: includes consultations for any upper respiratory tract infection or otitis media. n/a = not applicable.