{"id":1635,"date":"2023-01-05T15:12:22","date_gmt":"2023-01-05T15:12:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/?p=1635"},"modified":"2023-01-05T15:12:22","modified_gmt":"2023-01-05T15:12:22","slug":"laryngomalacia-causes-symptoms-and-treatment-and-when-to-worry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/laryngomalacia-causes-symptoms-and-treatment-and-when-to-worry\/","title":{"rendered":"Laryngomalacia: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment and When to Worry"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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&#8217;ll find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions, including &#8220;how common is laryngomalacia?&#8221; and &#8220;when should I be worried?&#8221;. Before anything else, make sure to consult with a reliable <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/pediatrician-miami-florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">pediatrician in Miami, Florida<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, to get an expert diagnosis and the best treatment possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Here are the must-know facts about laryngomalacia.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What Is Laryngomalacia?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you notice your newborn&#8217;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 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/ana-hernandez-puga\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dr. Hernandez-Puga<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1637 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/01\/What-Is-Laryngomalacia.jpg\" alt=\"A Little Boy Who Is Not Feeling Well on His Parents Shoulder\" width=\"1000\" height=\"662\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/01\/What-Is-Laryngomalacia-200x132.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/01\/What-Is-Laryngomalacia-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/01\/What-Is-Laryngomalacia-400x265.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/01\/What-Is-Laryngomalacia-600x397.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/01\/What-Is-Laryngomalacia-768x508.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/01\/What-Is-Laryngomalacia-800x530.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/01\/What-Is-Laryngomalacia.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>How Common Is Laryngomalacia?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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&#8217;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&#8217;s windpipe. Usually, tracheomalacia is not as common as laryngomalacia.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>The Most Common Laryngomalacia Symptoms<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are several laryngomalacia symptoms to be aware of. While the newborn&#8217;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:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Long pauses in breathing or apnea<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Noisy and loud breathing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dysphagia or having difficulty swallowing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Poor weight gain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pulling food into the lungs or aspiration<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chronic acid reflux or GERD<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cyanosis<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pulling in or tugging at the chest or neck while breathing<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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&#8217;s breathing disrupts normal sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What Triggers Laryngomalacia?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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&#8217;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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How Do You Diagnose Laryngomalacia?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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&#8217;s health. The doctor may also perform a nasopharyngolaryngoscopy, a test involving a small camera to check the baby&#8217;s larynx.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If the diagnosis is made, the doctor may want to conduct additional tests to find out the severity of the condition. These tests include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Airway fluoroscopy<\/strong>: This involves the combination of a contrast agent and X-rays to illuminate certain areas within the baby&#8217;s body.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Microlaryngoscopy and bronchoscopy or ML&amp;B<\/strong>: The doctor will insert a lighted scope into the voice box and the windpipe to check what is contributing to the loud breathing.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Chest and neck x-rays<\/strong>: These tests help the doctor determine if the baby has additional defects that could cause noisy breathing.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Impedance probe<\/strong>: The doctor inserts a tiny tube into the baby&#8217;s esophagus during the procedure. Babies undergoing this procedure will usually remain in the hospital overnight.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you have any questions or concerns about your baby&#8217;s health, this is the perfect time to ask away!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Laryngomalacia Treatment Explained<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are also some helpful ways to manage the symptoms of this condition. However, the exact management will depend on the child&#8217;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&#8217;s airway.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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&#8217;s vocal cords. The baby should slowly start breathing normally. Full recovery is typically expected in around two weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1638 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/01\/Laryngomalacia-Treatment-Explained.jpg\" alt=\"A Baby Girl Comes to See a Doctor for a Check-up\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/01\/Laryngomalacia-Treatment-Explained-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/01\/Laryngomalacia-Treatment-Explained-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/01\/Laryngomalacia-Treatment-Explained-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/01\/Laryngomalacia-Treatment-Explained-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/01\/Laryngomalacia-Treatment-Explained-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/01\/Laryngomalacia-Treatment-Explained-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/01\/Laryngomalacia-Treatment-Explained.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>FAQ<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b>Is This a Common Condition?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Yes, many babies <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cincinnatichildrens.org\/health\/l\/laryngomalacia-infantile\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">deal with this birth effect<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. 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&#8217;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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>When Should I Visit the ER?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you notice the area around your baby&#8217;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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Can I Prevent It Somehow?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">No, there is nothing parents can do to prevent this congenital disability. However, in most cases, the condition disappears without medical assistance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Give Us a Call Today<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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&#8217;re here to help you! Book an appointment with our team of professionals to get started.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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&#8217;ll find answers to some of the most commonly asked  [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1636,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[4,381],"tags":[386,382,384,383,385],"class_list":["post-1635","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kids","category-laryngomalacia","tag-how-common-is-laryngomalacia","tag-laryngomalacia","tag-laryngomalacia-symptoms","tag-laryngomalacia-treatment","tag-newborn-noisy-breathing"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1635","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1635"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1635\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1636"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1635"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1635"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/ana-hpmd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1635"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}