Pain relief in children after day-case tonsillectomy.

INTERVENTION: Please note that as of 26/05/10 the status of this trial was changed to "stopped". The trial was discontinued due to lack of funding. 1. Parents of the child booked in for day case tonsillectomy will receive a Patients Information Sheet at their out‐patients appointment 2. The anaesthetist concerned will obtain consent for participation in the study from the child's parent on the morning of the surgery 3. The children will be randomised by St Helier on the day surgery unit 4. They will receive a standard anaesthetic and have routine monitoring 5. The children will have routine recovery care 6. They will have standard painkillers to take home with written instructions on bottle 7. Information on discharge: anaesthetist tells parents to give analgesia regularly to their child, even if not in pain. Both groups to receive pain score and recovery indicator questionnaire 8. One group will receive a "painkiller chart" and the control group will not 9. Parents will receive telephone call on day 1, 3 and 7 after tonsillectomy to remind them to fill out questionnaire. 10. Questionnaire will be collected at the two week follow‐up clinic by Mr Rathod, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Surgeon CONDITION: Signs and Symptoms: Post‐operative pain ; Signs and Symptoms PRIMARY OUTCOME: 1. Pain scores as measured on two separate visual analogue scales; 2. Recovery indicators i.e. time to normal diet, time to normal sleeping patterns, nausea and vomiting and need to ring hospital/GP for advice regarding pain control SECONDARY OUTCOME: Not provided at time of registration INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Will be aged 5‐10 years 2. Will be undergoing tonsillectomy as a day case procedure at Queen Mary's Hospital Day Theatre 3. Will be healthy children, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I and II