The effects of general anesthesia on upper respiratory tract infections in children

A prospective cohort study of 489 pediatric patients was performed to investigate the prevalence of perioperative respiratory complications and symptomology in children presenting for myringotomy with upper respiratory tract infections (URIs). All children undergoing myringotomy received halothane N₂O/O₂ anesthesia administered via face mask. Information on complications and respiratory symptoms was obtained from the anesthesia and recovery room records, and by standardized questionaire. There were no significant differences in perioperative complications between asymptomatic children (1.23%), symptomatic children fulfilling predetermined URI criteria (1.28%), and symptomatic children that did not fulfill the URI criterial (2.38%). In addition, the prevalence and duration of respiratory symptoms was significantly less in children having received anesthesia and surgery than in a matched group of non-anesthetized controls who did not have surgery. Results from this study suggest that there is no increased morbidity for children presenting at minor surgery with acute uncomplicated URIs and who did not require tracheal intubation. In addition, the administration of general anesthesia and surgery to this group of patients was followed by a decrease in both the appearance and duration of a number of respiratory symptoms.