Noisy breathing is commonly caused by a floppy voicebox which is a condition called
laryngomalacia. The cause of laryngomalacia is not fully understood, but some studies have
suggested that it could be due to acid escaping from the stomach and spreading up the
swallowing passage to the throat (acid reflux). This affects about 1 in 100 newborns and is
therefore one of the most common reasons for infants to see Otolaryngologists at BC
Children's Hospital (BCCH). These infants can have a spectrum of distressing symptoms
including squeaky breathing, choking, difficulty feeding, failure to gain weight, and
episodes of turning blue (due to lack of oxygen).
At present, Otolaryngologists at BCCH will sometimes give children with laryngomalacia
medication to reduce the amount of acid they make in their stomachs, in the hope that this
will reduce their symptoms of laryngomalacia. It has never been scientifically confirmed
whether anti-reflux medication will benefit these children any more than doing nothing at
all.
Phase:
Phase 1
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Children's & Women's Health Centre of British Columbia