Difficulty swallowing is an increasingly common health problem among babies and children. It is estimated that dysphagia has an incidence of more than 80%, mainly due to the greater survival of patients who are subject to this problem. These are particularly premature babies and children with complex pathologies or malformations who cannot swallow correctly, due to the characteristics of their organs, muscles or the nervous tissue that intervenes in swallowing.
Neurological causes and malformations are some of the main causes of dysphagia in babies and young children, while from the age of 8 it is usually associated with digestive problems. Malformations such as cleft lip, macroglossia or tonsillar hypertrophy increase the risk of suffering from dysphagia, since they affect the muscles and organs that are involved in swallowing, such as the tongue or pharynx. On the other hand, children with cerebral palsy, developmental disorders or affected by syndromes such as Cruzon, Apert or Down syndrome are also more likely to suffer from swallowing difficulties.
Premature children would be the other main risk group. This is because the coordination between sucking, swallowing and breathing does not appear until the 32nd week of gestation. Problems such as gastroesophageal reflux are also more common among these babies, due to the lack of formation of involved organs such as the internal esophageal sphincter, which prevents food from leaving the stomach. Additionally, having been intubated for a long period of time can also increase the chances of developing dysphagia.
Older children may warn us that they have difficulty swallowing or that some foods stick to the palate, but not babies. They usually eat very slowly, need to swallow several times, or choke and cough frequently during meals. It is crucial to observe other signs such as excessive salivation, vomiting and regurgitation or even significant weight loss. Other problems associated with dysphagia are dysphonia and aspiration, that is, the passage of food into the bronchi and lungs due to the opening of the glottis when swallowing.
Currently, there are a multitude of diagnostic tests with which pediatric specialists can detect the causes and severity of dysphagia, such as x-rays, CT scans, endoscopies or laryngoscopies, among others. Treatments to ensure safe swallowing will vary depending on the age, severity, and causes of this problem:
