Laryngomalacia

Also known as: LM, floppy voice box, congenital laryngeal stridor.

What is laryngomalacia?

The larynx, or voice box, ordinarily sits above the trachea, which is the windpipe that leads to the lungs. When the tissue of the larynx is soft and covers the opening of the trachea, this is known as laryngomalacia.

What causes laryngomalacia?

The exact cause of laryngomalacia isn’t clear. It frequently develops during pregnancy or very early in life. A lack of muscle tone in the baby’s upper body may contribute to the problem.

What are the symptoms of laryngomalacia?

Trouble breathing, difficulty feeding, apnea, tugging at the neck or chest, gastric reflux, inhaling food into the lungs, a blue tint to the skin and other symptoms can occur with laryngomalacia.

What are laryngomalacia care options?

In most cases, laryngomalacia resolves by the time the baby is 20 months old. Medications can help with symptoms in the meantime. In more severe instances, surgery may be needed to correct the problems related to laryngomalacia.


Reviewed by: Brian Ho, MD

This page was last updated on: October 03, 2019 03:47 PM