Children ( n = 240 , American Society of Anesthesiologists [ ASA ] classes I-II , aged 5-10 y ) scheduled for tonsillectomy were randomly and equally assigned to 3 groups : DEX-IV , for intravenous injection of dexamethasone ( 0.5 mg/kg , maximum dose 24 mg ) ; DEX-INF , given the same amount of dexamethasone by local infiltration to the upper middle and lower poles of the tonsils ; and a control group not given dexamethasone .