What Can Cause Dysphagia In Children?

• Being born prematurely.
• Cleft lip or cleft palate.
• Compression of the esophagus by other body parts.
• Dental problems, such as an overbite.
• Developmental delays.
• Diseases that affect how the nerves and muscles work.

What is the most common cause of pediatric dysphagia?

having a tracheostomy (artificial opening in the throat for breathing)

gastroesophageal reflux disease

(GERD) compression of the esophagus by other body parts, such as the heart, thyroid gland, blood vessels, or lymph nodes. foreign bodies in the esophagus, such as a swallowed coin.

Why would a child have dysphagia?

Causes of dysphagia

a condition that affects the nervous system

, such as a stroke, head injury, multiple sclerosis or dementia. cancer – such as mouth cancer or oesophageal cancer. gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) – where stomach acid leaks back up into the oesophagus.

What are three disorders that cause dysphagia?

Neurological conditions that can cause swallowing difficulties are: stroke (the most common cause of dysphagia); traumatic brain injury;

cerebral palsy

; Parkinson disease and other degenerative neurological disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), multiple sclerosis, …

How common is pediatric dysphagia?

If anything goes wrong anywhere in the process, it may cause a disorder known as dysphagia. Swallowing and feeding disorders are common in children. It’s estimated

between 25% and 45% of normally developing children have some form of the

condition.

How do I know if my child has dysphagia?

1. Arching or stiffening of the body during feedings.
2. Chest congestion after eating or drinking.
3. Coughing or choking when eating or drinking or right after.
4. Drooling.
5. Eating slowly.

How do you help a child with dysphagia?

1. thickening your child’s liquids.
2. remaining upright for at least an hour after eating.
3. medications to decrease stomach acid production.
4. medications to help food move through the digestive tract faster.
5. an operation to help keep food and acid in the stomach (fundoplication)

What can kids with dysphagia eat?

Infants and children with dysphagia are often able to

swallow thick fluids and soft foods

, such as baby foods or pureed foods, better than thin liquids. Some infants who had trouble swallowing formula will do better when they are old enough to eat baby foods.

How do you know if you have dysphagia?

Signs and symptoms associated with dysphagia may include:

Having pain while swallowing (odynophagia) Being unable to swallow

.

Having the sensation of food getting stuck in your throat or chest

or behind your breastbone (sternum)

Can dysphagia be cured?

Many cases of dysphagia can be improved with treatment, but

a cure isn’t always possible

. Treatments for dysphagia include: speech and language therapy to learn new swallowing techniques. changing the consistency of food and liquids to make them safer to swallow.

What is the best treatment for dysphagia?

• Exercises for your swallowing muscles. If you have a problem with your brain, nerves, or muscles, you may need to do exercises to train your muscles to work together to help you swallow. …
• Changing the foods you eat. …
• Dilation. …
• Endoscopy. …
• Surgery. …
• Medicines.

Can dysphagia go away on its own?

Dysphagia is a another medical name for difficulty swallowing. This symptom isn’t always indicative of a medical condition. In fact,

this condition may be temporary and go away on its own

.

What are the 2 types of dysphagia?

Dysphagia has two main types:

structural dysphagia

, which results from changes to the actual structure of your esophagus, or dysphagia caused by esophageal motility (movement) issues. In some cases, dysphagia results from certain changes to the physical structure of the esophagus.

What are the stages of dysphagia?

• Oral preparatory phase. During this phase, you chew your food to a size, shape, and consistency that can be swallowed. …
• Pharyngeal phase. Here, the muscles of your pharynx contract in sequence. …
• Esophageal phase. The muscles in your esophagus contract in sequence to move the bolus toward your stomach.

Can a child grow out of aspiration?

Or a tube may be put directly into your child’s stomach during a surgery. This is called a gastrostomy tube. In some children,

aspiration lessens over time

. In other cases, a child may need more treatment to address the cause.

Can dysphagia come on suddenly?

Dysphagia means trouble swallowing. This condition can be long-term or

it can come on suddenly

. If your child suddenly has trouble swallowing, get medical help right away.