Gastroesophageal reflux association with laryngomalacia: a prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the incidence and clinical role of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in patients with laryngomalacia.


METHODS
Prospective evaluation of consecutive infants with a new diagnosis of laryngomalacia with an initial questionnaire, a barium esophagram or 24 h pH probe and record of their subsequent clinical course.


METHODS
A large, tertiary pediatric referral center and its associated outpatient clinic.


METHODS
New diagnosis of laryngomalacia in 33 consecutive infants were evaluated by questionnaire and 27 of these were evaluated for GER.


RESULTS
GER was observed in 64% of patients and was significantly associated with severe symptoms and complicated clinical course (P = 0.0163). The presence of smokers in the infant's household negatively impacted his or her clinical course and symptomatology (P = 0.013) as did the presence of other major, concurrent medical problems (P = 0.065).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with laryngomalacia, GER was significantly associated with severe symptoms (a complicated clinical course), as was smoking in an infant's household and other significant medical problems.
Giannoni
C
C
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Florida, Gainsville 32610, USA.
Sulek
M
M
Friedman
E M
EM
Duncan
N O
NO
D017668:Age of Onset; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D007830:Larynx / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires