Adenoid and Tonsil Hypertrophy in Zaria, North Western Nigeria: Review of Clinical Presentation and Surgical Outcome

BACKGROUND: Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is one of the most common childhood disorder that necessitates presentation to the ear nose and throat specialist. The disorder may be managed conservatively or by surgery. AIM: To highlight the clinical presentation and surgical treatment outcome of patients managed for adenoid and tonsillar hypertrophy at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The case records of patients managed for adenoid and tonsil hypertrophy were reviewed from January 2013 to December 2017 at the Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Surgery Ahmadu Bello University Teaching hospital Zaria, - Northwestern Nigeria. Case notes with incomplete information and /or missing pages were excluded. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS (for windows, version 23) RESULTS: There were 56 (55.4%) males and 45 (44.6%) females with male to female ratio of 1.2:1. Their ages ranged from 2–16 years with a mean and standard deviation of 4.0 and 3.2 respectively. The most common symptom at presentation was snoring 85 (84.2%) followed by rhinorrhea 81(80.2%). Findings from the radiologic investigations revealed that majority of the patients had severely narrowed nasopharyngeal air column 83(82,2%) Adenotonsillectomy was the most common surgery performed on most of the patients 63(62.4%) who presented with adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Majority of the patients 95(94.1%) had resolution of symptoms within the period of follow up. Four (4.0%) of them had recurrent adenoidal growth. CONCLUSION: Snoring, rhinorrhea and mouth breathing were the most common symptoms of adenotonsillar hypertrophy. The outcome of adenotonsillar surgeries in our patients is good, with the majority having resolution of symptoms.