Practice Recommendations with SORT Strengths1
| Recommendation | Strength |
|---|---|
| Referral for tonsillectomy is appropriate for children having 7 bouts of tonsillitis in 12 months, 5 annual bouts for 2 years, or 3 annual bouts for 3 years. Watchful waiting is indicated for lesser frequency. | SORT: A1 |
| Tonsillectomy may reasonably be offered to children having fewer infections given certain modifying factors. | SORT: B1 |
| Tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy should be recommended for pediatric obstructive sleep - disordered breathing felt due to adenoid or tonsillar hypertrophy. | SORT: A1 |
| Tonsillectomy has shown benefit for adults with recurrent tonsillitis. | SORT: B2,3 |
| Tonsillectomy/adenotonsillectomy may be indicated in adults with sleep disordered breathing and tonsil hypertrophy. | SORT: C4 |
| Adenoidectomy may be considered for chronic middle ear effusion and recurrent otitis media in children. | SORT: B5–8 |
| Tonsillectomy may be considered for poorly validated indications such as chronic tonsillitis, febrile seizures, muffled speech, halitosis, malocclusion, tonsillar hypertrophy, cryptic tonsils, and chronic pharyngeal carriage of group A β hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS). | SORT: C1 |
SORT, Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy