If your baby is breathing loudly, you may have laryngomalacia on your hands. Learn what causes this congenital disability, how to spot it, the possible treatment methods, and whether you should feel worried. This article features and explains everything you must know about laryngomalacia. Additionally, you’ll find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions, including “how common is laryngomalacia?” and “when should I be worried?”. Before anything else, make sure to consult with a reliable pediatrician in Miami, Florida, to get an expert diagnosis and the best treatment possible.
Here are the must-know facts about laryngomalacia.
What Is Laryngomalacia?
If you notice your newborn’s noisy breathing, you may be concerned and outright frightened. In some cases, noisy and heavy breathing happens due to laryngomalacia. This is a birth effect that involves tissue softening above the voice box or the larynx. Babies with laryngomalacia usually have a high-pitched or noisy breathing pattern, or stridor. Usually, this congenital disability goes away without medical assistance. Babies over the age of one will no longer deal with this condition. In the meantime, you can reach out to your medical professional for expert advice and guidance. We suggest booking an appointment with a professional like Dr. Hernandez-Puga.
How Common Is Laryngomalacia?
One of the most common reasons why your baby is breathing loudly is laryngomalacia. Experts also refer to laryngomalacia as congenital. This means that the condition is present at the baby’s birth. Sometimes, individuals may mistake laryngomalacia for tracheomalacia. However, there are some significant differences between the two. While both of these conditions affect the airway, tracheomalacia includes weak or floppy cartilage of the baby’s windpipe. Usually, tracheomalacia is not as common as laryngomalacia.
Moreover, tracheomalacia is a more severe condition. Newborn noisy breathing is prevalent. In fact, over 50 percent of all newborns deal with laryngomalacia during the initial week of life. Also, newborns develop this condition when they turn two to four weeks of age.
The Most Common Laryngomalacia Symptoms
There are several laryngomalacia symptoms to be aware of. While the newborn’s noisy breathing may be one of the most common signs of this congenital disability, a few more go overlooked. Nevertheless, make sure never to self-diagnose. Instead, talk to your healthcare provider for guidance and diagnosis. With that in mind, here are some of the most important laryngomalacia symptoms:
- Long pauses in breathing or apnea
- Noisy and loud breathing
- Dysphagia or having difficulty swallowing
- Poor weight gain
- Pulling food into the lungs or aspiration
- Chronic acid reflux or GERD
- Cyanosis
- Pulling in or tugging at the chest or neck while breathing
If you notice any of the mentioned laryngomalacia symptoms, seek out medical help immediately. So, how common is laryngomalacia? It is very common, and you likely have nothing to worry about. However, talking to a medical professional is important, especially if your baby’s breathing disrupts normal sleep.
What Triggers Laryngomalacia?
Experts are not sure what causes laryngomalacia symptoms. Nevertheless, some believe that the condition is linked to the way the larynx develops in the mother’s womb. The muscles that support the larynx may be too relaxed or weak. Plus, some babies may have GERD and laryngomalacia, making the symptoms of the congenital disability even more severe.
How Do You Diagnose Laryngomalacia?
Before getting laryngomalacia treatment, your baby needs to be diagnosed with this congenital disability. There are several ways to diagnose it. Your healthcare professional will examine your baby and ask essential questions about the child’s health. The doctor may also perform a nasopharyngolaryngoscopy, a test involving a small camera to check the baby’s larynx.
If the diagnosis is made, the doctor may want to conduct additional tests to find out the severity of the condition. These tests include:
- Airway fluoroscopy: This involves the combination of a contrast agent and X-rays to illuminate certain areas within the baby’s body.
- Microlaryngoscopy and bronchoscopy or ML&B: The doctor will insert a lighted scope into the voice box and the windpipe to check what is contributing to the loud breathing.
- Chest and neck x-rays: These tests help the doctor determine if the baby has additional defects that could cause noisy breathing.
- Impedance probe: The doctor inserts a tiny tube into the baby’s esophagus during the procedure. Babies undergoing this procedure will usually remain in the hospital overnight.
If you have any questions or concerns about your baby’s health, this is the perfect time to ask away!
Laryngomalacia Treatment Explained
In most instances, the congenital disability will disappear without additional medical assistance. Typically, you can expect this to happen within a year. Nevertheless, some babies with more severe cases of laryngomalacia may require medication or a surgical procedure.
The healthcare professional may recommend anti-reflux medication if the baby has laryngomalacia and GERD. Since GERD may make swelling linked to laryngomalacia worse, it is crucial to manage reflux.
As mentioned, surgery may also be required for laryngomalacia treatment. The surgical procedure includes trimming the floppy and weak tissue above the larynx or the voice box. Experts refer to this procedure as a supraglottoplasty. A baby undergoing a supraglottoplasty as a form of laryngomalacia treatment will receive general anesthesia.
There are also some helpful ways to manage the symptoms of this condition. However, the exact management will depend on the child’s unique case and the severity of the congenital disability. If the infant struggles with feeding, positional feeding or thickened feeding may be good ways to alleviate symptoms. The healthcare professional will provide you with effective ways to manage the signs and symptoms of the condition. For instance, the expert may suggest the mother places the baby on their stomach to sleep. By doing this, the tissue will not obstruct the baby’s airway.
Do not be surprised if your baby underwent surgery and the sounds are worse for a couple of days post-procedure. This is entirely normal. According to the experts, this occurs due to swelling and inflammation around the baby’s vocal cords. The baby should slowly start breathing normally. Full recovery is typically expected in around two weeks.
FAQ
Is This a Common Condition?
Yes, many babies deal with this birth effect. In most cases, there is nothing to worry about, and the complications should go away with time. However, medical assistance may sometimes be required. If you are feeling worried and concerned about your baby’s health or you notice that the symptoms are interfering with regular sleep schedules and feeding, it is time to talk to a medical doctor.
When Should I Visit the ER?
If you notice the area around your baby’s lips turning blue or if your baby is not breathing correctly, you should head to the closest emergency room immediately. As mentioned before, in most situations, this is not a dangerous condition. However, noisy breathing is alarming, and it can sometimes cause further complications.
Can I Prevent It Somehow?
No, there is nothing parents can do to prevent this congenital disability. However, in most cases, the condition disappears without medical assistance.
Give Us a Call Today
Congenital disabilities can be frightening, especially if you are a new parent. While this is typically not a dangerous condition, noisy breathing can be a cause for concern. We’re here to help you! Book an appointment with our team of professionals to get started.
