Stockholm: A new study suggests that having tonsils removed in childhood increases the risk of arthritis in old age.
In a study conducted in Sweden, researchers examined nearly 7,000 people with arthritis. These individuals were diagnosed with the disease between January 2001 and December 2022.
In the study, Swedish researchers found that those who were the youngest of siblings had a higher risk of the disease. The research also revealed that environmental factors in early life play an important role in this disease.
Participants in the study were analyzed according to factors related to early life, including maternal age at birth, early pregnancy weight, gestational age, baby’s birth weight and mode of delivery.
Other factors included number of siblings, serious infections in childhood (from birth to 15 years of age), and removal of tonsils and appendix before age 16.
The researchers found that people who had older siblings had a 12 to 15 percent higher risk of developing arthritis, and a 13 percent increased chance of developing the disease due to serious infections.
However, tonsillectomy was associated with a 30 percent increase in arthritis, which is inflammation of the spine, joints, and nerves, resulting in pain, stiffness, and fatigue.
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