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