Clinical Analysis of Hoarseness in Children as Seen in Otorhinolaryngology Department of a Tertiary Health Institution in North-West, Nigeria

Abstract

Normal phonation is produced in the larynx by the blast of pulmonic air stream that vibrates the vocal cords. Hoarseness reflects changes in the structure or function of the vocal cords. Objective: This is to describe the clinical profile of hoarseness in children and aetiological factors in a tertiary health institution. Methodology: This is a retrospective eight-year (2006-2013) study of clinical records of patients with hoarseness as their main symptom seen in the ENT department of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto. Results: Fifty-two children with hoarseness were studied. Thirty three (63.5%) were males, while 19 (36.5) were female with a male: female ratio of 1.7:1. The age range was 1 -13 years with a mean age of 5.1 years. Age group 4 -7 years (38.5%) were observed to be more affected with duration of hoarseness ranging from 1 day to 5 years. RRP 23 (44.2%) was the most common aetiology of hoarseness followed by foreign body 15 (28.8%) and Acute Laryngeal infections 9 (17.3%). Tracheostomy was done in 29 (55.8%) of patients. Two patients died post operatively due to improper tracheostomy tube care in the ward. Conclusion: With delayed presentation and its attendant grave sequelae, it has become imperative that persistent hoarseness in children lasting more than three weeks should be endoscopically evaluated by an otorhinolaryngologist.