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Hoarseness in a child with gastroesophageal reflux
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania.
Insights
Pediatric hoarseness can be a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux. Treating reflux resolved hoarseness and cough in a young girl, suggesting a link.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Gastroenterology
- Pediatric Pulmonology
Background:
- Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is common in children.
- Hoarseness is not typically recognized as a direct symptom of GER.
Observation:
- A young girl presented with hoarseness and nocturnal cough.
- She had documented gastroesophageal reflux and esophagitis.
Findings:
- Treatment targeting GER and esophagitis led to the resolution of her hoarseness and cough.
- This case highlights a potential, often overlooked, connection between GER and pediatric voice disturbances.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider GER in the differential diagnosis of pediatric hoarseness.
- Further research into the pathogenetic mechanisms linking reflux to laryngeal symptoms is warranted.
Abstract:
Hoarseness is not generally appreciated to be a manifestation of pediatric gastroesophageal reflux. We describe a case in which treatment of well-documented gastroesophageal reflux and esophagitis in a young girl with hoarseness and nocturnal cough led to resolution of these symptoms. Possible pathogenetic mechanisms and the difficulty in associating hoarseness with reflux by standard reflux testing are discussed.
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