Pan American Guideline on Tonsillitis and Adenoid Hypertrophy

Abstract

Objective: This evidence-based clinical practice guideline (CPG) aims to improve clinical decision making of general practitioners and specialists in the treatment of acute tonsillitis and adenoid hypertrophy and supports clinicians in clinical decision making for medical treatment, targeting the pathophysiological process and evidence-based efficacy, safety, and tolerability.

Method: Pan-American Association of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery in partnership with Ibero American Agency for Development and Assessment of Health Technologies developed a clinical practice guideline on medical management of acute tonsillitis and adenoid hypertrophy in children. This document provides punctual evidence-based recommendations for primary care physicians and otolaryngologists on the medical management of these conditions and complies with evidence-based medicine fundamentals and with well-validated guidelines methodology as recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, the National Institutes of Health, and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network.

Results: This document provides from A Grade to D Grade of clinical recommendations for treatment of these conditions. The Guideline Development Group made recommendations based on well-designed randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews. Some clinical questions could not be answered by high-quality research and for these questions a Panel Delphi was conducted to provide clinical guidance. Overall there is a need for well-designed RCTs and economic assessments to answer most of the gaps of knowledge for the treatment of acute tonsillitis and adenoid hypertrophy.

Conclusion: This clinical practice guideline provides guidance for the medical treatment of children with acute tonsillitis and adenoid hypertrophy.