A 6-year-old has documented recurrent group A streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis. The parents request tonsillectomy. As per the Paradise criteria, the frequency of episodes that justifies tonsillectomy is:

• A Five or more episodes in each of the preceding five years
• B Seven or more episodes in the preceding year ✓
• C Three or more episodes in the preceding year
• D Ten or more episodes over the preceding two years

Explanation

The Paradise criteria accept any one of: seven or more episodes in one year, five or more episodes per year in two consecutive years, or three or more episodes per year in three consecutive years, each episode documented and adequately treated. Option C describes the threshold required per year across three years, not a single year, so it does not qualify alone. This convention is followed in Indian exam teaching.

Reference: Dhingra's Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat, 8th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.