QUALITY OF LIFE IN CHILDREN UNDERGOING ADENOTONSILLECTOMY: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Objective: To evaluate postoperative Quality of Life using the OSA-18 questionnaire, comparing scores before and six months after Adenotonsillectomy. Methods: This prospective study was conducted in 2024 at a tertiary care teaching hospital and included 120 children aged 6–15 years undergoing adenotonsillectomy. Children with recurrent tonsillitis and obstructive symptoms were included. Exclusion criteria encompassed malignancy, syndromic conditions, and developmental delays. All surgeries were performed using the coblation technique. The OSA-18 questionnaire and clinical assessments were conducted preoperatively and at six months postoperatively. Data were analyzed using paired Student’s t-test with p<0.05 considered significant. Results: Postoperative assessments showed significant reductions in throat pain (82.8%), sleep apnea episodes (99.3%), doctor visits (93.9%), and school absences (92.8%). OSA-18 scores improved across all domains, with the greatest changes in physical symptoms (83.4%) and sleep disturbance (79.5%). Overall QoL improved by 78.6%, indicating enhanced daily functioning and reduced caregiver burden. Conclusion: Adenotonsillectomy significantly enhances QoL in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy, improving physical symptoms, behavior, emotional stability, and reducing caregiver stress.