Nezam El-Tayebat Fact CheckA scientific assessment of the “نظام الطيبات” nutrition system
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Potentially true Certainty of evidence: very low provisional C-ORG-04

Tonsillectomy increases autoimmune disease by 34% (Ji 2016, 179,875 Swedish patients).

Conclusion: Possible link; causation not shown.
  1. Original statement
  2. Scientific assessment
  3. In plain language
  4. Studies on this claim
  5. Regional context
  6. What applies in my country?
  7. References

Original statement

ودعمت دراسة جي السويدية على 179,875 مريضاً ارتباطاً بزيادة 34% في أمراض المناعة الذاتية

verbatim according to source. Translation by the project; the Arabic wording is authoritative.

Translation

Tonsillectomy increases autoimmune disease by 34% (Ji 2016, 179,875 Swedish patients).

Origin

Source status
Archive editors
Attribution
Archive editors (eltayebat.com); not necessarily Elawady's own words
Origin
https://eltayebat.com/rule/unnecessary-organ-removal/
Attribution uncertainty
Editorial summary/narrative and study selection written by the archive operators; the archive states that the cited research documents harm independently of Dr. Diaa's words.
Claimed mechanism

Immune dysfunction after tonsil removal.

Claimed health effect

Autoimmune disease.

Population concerned

Tonsillectomized persons

Geographic restriction by Elawady

not applicable

Scientific assessment

Potentially true – Some evidence points in favour of the statement, but it is not sufficient for a clear judgement.

Certainty of evidence: very low – Any assessment is very uncertain.

1. What was claimed?

34% more autoimmune disease after tonsillectomy.

2. What is demonstrably correct?

SIR 1.34 (1.30-1.37) is reported (A-ORG-02).

3. What is wrong or exaggerated?

The design compares with the general population, not with similar people who did not have surgery; recurrent infections and immune predisposition leading to tonsillectomy could explain the association.

4. What remains unclear?

Causality.

5. Which studies support it?

A-ORG-02.

6. Which studies contradict it?

None directly.

7. What applies to Germany and Europe?

Most cited cohorts are Scandinavian (Denmark, Sweden) and directly European; RCTs from the UK and Finland are directly transferable. Guidelines in Europe also emphasize defined indications (not verified here in detail).

8. What is known about Egypt?

No Egypt-specific data on rates or outcomes of tonsillectomy, cholecystectomy, hysterectomy, splenectomy or thyroid surgery were identified in this review.

9. What practical conclusion is appropriate?

A signal worth further study; not proof of harm.

Assessment details

Rationale for certainty of evidence

Single study comparing with the general population (SIR) without matched controls or confounder adjustment.

Source quality

Arabic narrative correctly says 'association' (ارتباطاً); English says 'added a 34% rise' (causal-sounding).

Regional transferability

Swedish data.

Individual exceptions

n/a

Regional scope of the claim
general (biological/medical)
Last reviewed
25 October 2026 provisional

In plain language

A Swedish study found 34% more autoimmune diseases in people who had their tonsils removed compared with the general population. This could be due to the operation, but it could also be because people who need tonsil surgery already differ in their immune system. The study cannot decide between these explanations.

Studies on this claim

Studies supporting the claim (1)

  • Sweden: autoimmune diseases after tonsil removal

    Ji J et al.. J Autoimmun 2016 · PMID 27344241 · DOI 10.1016/j.jaut.2016.06.007
    Cohort studycited by the Tayebat archiveabstract only checked★ key study

    People who had tonsils removed were diagnosed with autoimmune diseases 34% more often than the general population.

    Tonsillectomy increases autoimmune disease by 34% (Ji 2016, 179,875 Swedish patients).

    Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: low · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim

    Original publication · Scientific details

    Study explained simply
    What did the researchers want to find out?

    Autoimmunity

    How was the study done?

    Cohort vs population

    How many people, animals or samples were studied?

    179,875

    What was actually found?

    Higher incidence

    How large was the observed effect?

    SIR 1.34

    What do the results mean in everyday life?

    Possible link; cause unclear

    What are the study's limitations?

    No matched controls

    What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?

    Association only

    Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?

    European

    What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?

    Causation

    Scientific details →

Studies contradicting or limiting the claim (0)

No studies in this group.

Studies with mixed or unclear results (0)

No studies in this group.

Regional context

Germany / EU

Most cited cohorts are Scandinavian (Denmark, Sweden) and directly European; RCTs from the UK and Finland are directly transferable. Guidelines in Europe also emphasize defined indications (not verified here in detail).

Egypt

No Egypt-specific data on rates or outcomes of tonsillectomy, cholecystectomy, hysterectomy, splenectomy or thyroid surgery were identified in this review.

What applies in my country?

General scientific assessment

Potentially true Possible link; causation not shown.

This statement concerns biological or medical relationships. The scientific assessment above applies regardless of the country; country-specific food data do not change it.

References

  1. Tonsillectomy associated with an increased risk of autoimmune diseases: A national cohort study.. Ji J et al.. J Autoimmun 2016 · PMID 27344241 · DOI 10.1016/j.jaut.2016.06.007

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