Can babies outgrow laryngomalacia?
If your child is born with laryngomalacia, symptoms may be present at birth, and can become more obvious within the first few weeks of life. It is not uncommon for the noisy breathing to get worse before it improves, usually around 4 to 8 months of age. Most children outgrow laryngomalacia by 18 to 20 months of age.
How can I help my baby with laryngomalacia?
Hold your child in an upright position during feeding and at least 30 minutes after feeding. This helps keep food from coming back up. Burp your child gently and often during feeding. Don’t give your child juices or foods such as orange juice or oranges that can upset your child’s stomach.
Is laryngomalacia genetic?
The underlying cause of the condition is unknown. Most cases occur sporadically in people with no family history of the condition. In 90% of affected infants, laryngomalacia will resolve on its own by the time an infant is 18 to 20 months old.
Does laryngomalacia affect sleep?
Moderate-severe laryngomalacia can result in sleeping difficulties and pauses in the breathing (apneic spells).
Is laryngomalacia a rare disease?
Introduction. Laryngomalacia (LM) is the most common laryngeal anomaly in infants [1]. The incidence of LM in the general population is unknown, but it is estimated to be around one in 2100–2600 children [2]. Its main but not only symptom is stridor [1].
Can laryngomalacia cause failure to thrive?
About 5% of infants with laryngomalacia will fall into the severe range with failure to thrive, obstructive sleep apnea, and/or signs of respiratory distress including tachypnea and retractions. These children require supraglottoplasty surgery to relieve the obstruction.
Can babies with laryngomalacia breastfeed?
For babies with mild to moderate laryngomalacia, treatment is usually to wait and watch, weighing baby regularly to ensure the baby is taking enough milk to thrive, though I have worked with a few babies with severe laryngomalacia who needed to be hospitalised or have surgery.
Is laryngomalacia hereditary?
The underlying cause of the condition is unknown. Most cases occur sporadically in people with no family history of the condition.
How does laryngomalacia affect the baby?
Many babies with laryngomalacia also have problems with feeding. Babies with moderate to severe laryngomalacia often have difficulty coordinating their feeding and breathing so they need to take frequent breaks during feeding. This can result in prolonged feeding times which is frustrating for both the child and parent.
What is laryngomalacia and how is it treated?
Laryngomalacia is a “self-limited” condition since infants outgrow it, usually by 12 to 18 months of age. Approximately 15% of infants with laryngomalacia have severe enough airway or feeding problems that surgical treatment in indicated. Surgery involves removing a small bit of the collapsing, redundant tissue above the vocal cords.
Why choose Boston Children’s Hospital for laryngomalacia?
The Center for Airway Disorders at Boston Children’s Hospital is designed to care for children with rare conditions of the airway, including laryngomalacia. Our team provides the most advanced testing and surgical treatments available for this condition.
How is laryngomalacia diagnosed in children?
How is laryngomalacia in children diagnosed? The diagnosis of laryngomalacia is best made by flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy where a thin, flexible telescope is passed through the nose to examine the vocal cords and the airway above the vocal cords. The flexible laryngoscopy is completed in clinic and does not require general anesthesia.