Characterization of dysphonia in pediatric age in a laryngology center in Bogotá, Colombia.

Abstract

Dysphonia is present in 6 to 23% of children between 4-12 years of age and its study suppose a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge because the procedures currently used require a complete collaboration from de patient. In Colombia, a study on the characterization of the main pathologies that cause dysphonia in children has not been carried out so far. Vocal nodules are not the main cause of dysphonia in children in our population. 

This is an observational study where a revision of clinical histories and stroboscopies of patients younger than 18 with chronical voice symptoms (greater than 4 weeks) that assisted to a laryngology consultation within the last 10 years was done. A statistical and descriptive analysis was made with the collected data. 141 patients were selected, 73% had bilateral vocal fold lesions, 9.9% unilateral lesions and 16.3% had primary muscle tension dysphonia. The most common finding was vocal sulcus (13.37%), followed by muscle tension dysphonia and vocal nodules (13.2%). 41.06% of patients referred vocal abuse, and within this group, vocal nodules where most prevalent.

This is the first study in Colombia and the second one in Latin America of its kind. The results are generally consistent with the literature, except that in this study, the first cause of dysphonia is vocal sulcus, as opposed to vocal nodules which are typically the most common cause. There was a relation between chronic voice abuse, vocal nodules and cysts, this supports the theory that cysts are acquired lesions and not congenital.