Laryngeal tuberculosis. A cause of stridor in children

The number of tuberculosis (TB) cases reported in the United States has been on the decline for the last three decades. This trend has been dramatically reversed in the past few years, largely owing to the human immunodeficiency virus epidemic. Laryngeal TB, while well recognized in the adult population, is a rare disease in children. Only six cases have been described in the world literature since 1960. We describe three children with laryngeal TB who presented with stridor. One child required an emergency tracheotomy for control of the airway. The pathogenesis of laryngeal TB in children is postulated to differ from that in adults. In children primary infection of the larynx occurs, while in adults, laryngeal infection is secondary to pulmonary disease. All patients had triple anti-TB chemotherapy for 1 year. Laryngeal TB, although rare, may be seen more frequently in the near future and the diagnosis should always be considered.