SynthesisJornal de pediatria
Surgical management for periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Jornal de pediatria. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Surgical versus medical management of PFAPA (Periodic Fever, Aphthous Stomatitis, Pharyngitis, Adenitis): a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Pediatric rheumatology online journal · 2026Pooled it
- Colchicine prophylaxis in pediatric PFAPA: a systematic review.European journal of pediatrics · 2026Pooled it
- Systemic Autoinflammatory Diseases: An Evolving Paradigm of Fevers Beyond Autoimmunity and Infections.Indian pediatrics · 2026Review
- Periodic Fever, Aphthous Stomatitis, Pharyngitis, and Cervical Adenitis (PFAPA) Syndrome: An Updated Review with Current Insights into Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Strategies.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Epidemiology and clinical course of PFAPA syndrome in the pediatric population-single center study.BMC pediatrics · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveThis systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of surgical management, specifically total and partial tonsillectomy, for Periodic Fever, Aphthous Stomatitis, Pharyngitis, and Cervical Adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome, focusing on symptom resolution and recurrence reduction. DATA SOURCES: A systematic search of MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane databases identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing surgical to non-surgical management in children with PFAPA. Data extraction and quality assessment adhered to Cochrane guidelines and PRISMA protocols. Risk ratios (RR) and confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random-effects models. SUMMARY OF
findingsAfter the removal of duplicates, 31 studies were screened and 3 studies were included. Pooled analysis revealed a 72% reduction in persistent symptoms following surgical interventions compared to non-surgical management (RR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.12-0.68, I² = 22%, p = 0.005).
conclusionThe findings confirm that surgical management, including total and partial tonsillectomy, is an effective therapeutic option for PFAPA, with substantial benefits in symptom resolution and quality of life improvement. While surgery offers long-term benefits, its risks, and broader immunological implications require careful consideration. The study underscores the necessity for larger, multicenter trials to validate these findings across diverse populations and optimize treatment strategies.
Indexed as
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.