What are the symptoms of laryngeal hypertrophy?

Some babies will develop symptoms of laryngeal stridor shortly after birth. If there are no other discomforts, such as no foreign objects in the respiratory tract, and they cry loudly, swallow well, and the X-rays are normal, then there is no need to worry.

Overview

The wheezing sound that appears in a child shortly after birth is called congenital laryngeal wheezing, which is caused by curled epiglottis or weak laryngeal tissue. Weak laryngeal tissue is related to the mother's malnutrition during pregnancy, lack of calcium and other electrolytes in the fetus or imbalance, and in some children it may also be related to improper feeding in the future.

In children with laryngeal stridor, clinical symptoms often appear immediately after birth, but may also occur several weeks after birth. Attacks of laryngeal stridor can be continuous or intermittent. Children often have no symptoms when they are sleeping or quiet, but the symptoms are more obvious when they cry or are frightened. Most children do not become hoarse when they cry or cough. For children with mild symptoms, congenital laryngitis has no obvious impact on their growth, development and nutritional status. However, children with severe clinical manifestations may develop pectus excavatum or pectus carinatum due to breathing difficulties and long-term hypoxia. Because lung function is affected, some children may have an enlarged heart.

Once a child suffers from laryngeal stridor, he or she should be sent to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment in time. In addition to timely controlling the infection, attention should also be paid to correcting malnutrition and electrolytes. If treated properly, laryngeal stridor will usually disappear naturally around the age of 2. For children, it may be very important to get more sun exposure to strengthen their physical fitness and prevent colds.

Causes

Due to malnutrition during pregnancy and fetal calcium deficiency, the laryngeal cartilage becomes weak and the negative pressure increases during inhalation, causing the two edges of the epiglottic cartilage to curl inward and touch each other, or the epiglottic cartilage is too large and soft, the two sides of the aryepiglottic folds approach each other, the laryngeal cavity becomes narrowed and vibrates like a valve, and laryngitis occurs. Inspiratory arytenoid prolapse is another cause. The honking in children with this condition is not caused by weak laryngeal cartilages, but rather by the fact that the arytenoid cartilages rotate forward and downward during inhalation, and the loose tissue on them protrudes toward the front of the glottis, blocking the glottis and causing honking.

Early symptoms

Based on the history of laryngeal stridor shortly after birth, there was no history or signs of foreign bodies in the respiratory tract or other diseases. The lateral laryngeal X-ray is normal, the cry is loud and the swallowing is good, and the diagnosis can usually be made without direct laryngoscopy.

During direct laryngoscopy, it can be seen that the epiglottis cartilage is long and pointed, with both sides curled backwards and touching each other; or the epiglottis is large and soft, with the two sides of the epiglottis and the aryepiglottic folds close to each other; in some cases, loose tissue on the arytenoid cartilage protrudes toward the glottis and blocks the glottis. After the epiglottis is lifted with direct laryngoscopy, the stridor disappears, thus confirming the diagnosis.

The baby's breathing is normal when it is born, but laryngeal stridor gradually develops 1 to 2 months after birth. Most of the symptoms are persistent or intermittent. Laryngolaryngitis occurs only during the inspiratory phase and may be accompanied by inspiratory dyspnea. There are also cases where the laryngeal sound is not obvious at ordinary times, but occurs immediately after the slightest stimulation. Some are related to body position, getting worse when lying on your back and getting better when lying on your stomach or side. The general condition of most children is good and their crying is not hoarse.