Tooth and ENT Doctor

The most common symptom of LaryngoPharyngealReflux (LPR) is laryngitis. Hoarseness is found in almost 70% of cases. Close to half of patients complain of feeling "a lump in the throat" that makes it difficult for them to swallow, which they often mistake as a ‘thyroid problem’, and about 51% have a chronic or recurrent cough, unrelieved by cough preparations. Chronic throat clearing of "phlegm", and sore throat are also common symptoms. Reflux laryngitis is characterized by hoarseness, voice fatigue, and breaking of the voice, especially towards the end of the day. This is commonly experienced by teachers and speakers/lecturers. Reflux has also been associated with vocal cord polyps, vocal cord granulomas, laryngospasm, and paradoxical vocal fold movement. These disorders may sometimes necessitate surgery already. In worse cases, LPR may lead to laryngeal cancer and a condition called subglottic stenosis, which is a narrowing of the air passage, making it hard...

A 32-year-old male came for consult six months ago because of a 3 month history of chronic intermittent cough and hoarseness. He claimed that his voice fatigues near the end of the day. He is a call center agent. He really had no other complaints other than that; specifically, no heartburn, ear pain, difficulty of swallowing, or foreign body sensation. Chest xray was unremarkable. On laryngoscopy, he had normal vocal cord mobility and no suspicious mucosal lesions. There was however extensive erythema of the posterior glottis and inner arytenoid space. My impression then was Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) and I started him on omeprazole 20 mg 2x a day, advised him on dietary modification and reflux precautions. He responded very well to that and on follow up recently, after 3 months, he had complete resolution of symptoms. I maintained him on ranitidine 150 mg 2x a day and reiterated my previous advices. One of the more common cases I see in my practice is LPRD. Patien...