| Laryngomalacia is a congenital abnormality of the | | | | Most other infants will show symptoms by 5 weeks |
| laryngeal cartilage. It is thought to represent a delay | | | | old. Males are affected twice as often as females. |
| of maturation of the supporting structures of the | | | | Laryngomalacia arises from a continued immaturity of |
| larynx. This disorder may become obvious as early as | | | | the larynx. Laryngomalacia becomes symptomatic |
| the first two weeks of life, with noisy, raspy | | | | after the first few weeks of life, and may get louder |
| breathing while taking a breath in. Laryngomalacia is | | | | over the first year, as the child moves air more |
| the most common cause of stridor in infancy. | | | | vigorously. It generally resolves spontaneously by the |
| Furthermore, it is the most common congenital | | | | second year of life. In most cases, laryngomalacia is a |
| laryngeal anomaly. It is often associated with general | | | | harmless condition that resolves on its own, without |
| noisy respiration. The stridor is most prominent when | | | | medical intervention. The condition usually improves |
| the child is in the supine position or when the child is | | | | by the time the infant is 18 months old, and results in |
| agitated. | | | | no long-term impairment. |
| More force able inspiration tends to effect in a louder | | | | In several cases, the stridor is heard up until the age |
| stridor quality due to greater prolapse and thus | | | | of five. Each child's case is exclusive. A small |
| greater obstruction. Laryngomalacia may be more | | | | percentage develops severe respiratory problems |
| often in children with Down syndrome. Children with | | | | that need medical or surgical intervention. In rare |
| laryngomalacia will do better at a 30 degree angle, or | | | | cases, surgery is necessary. Most generally, this |
| by positioning their heads to alleviate or decrease the | | | | involves cutting the aryepiglottic folds to let the |
| obstruction. The child should also be held in an upright | | | | supraglottic airway spring open. In severe cases, a |
| position for 30 minutes after feeding and never fed | | | | temporary tracheotomy may be essential. The most |
| lying down. Crying exacerbates the obstruction and | | | | useful method to determine if your child's |
| work of breathing; a pacifier may be useful to calm | | | | laryngomalacia is causing significant problems is |
| an agitated infant. Sixty percent of infants born with | | | | appears to be interfering with feeding. Your baby |
| congenital laryngeal stridor will have symptoms in the | | | | requires frequent breaks while feeding. Your baby is |
| first week of life. | | | | having difficulty gaining weight. |