A Case of Laryngomalacia Appearing at 12 Years of Age

Laryngomalacia is usually a benign condition which occurs soon after birth, and is resolved by 2 years of age. A 12-year-old female, with a history of nasal allergy, had complained of inspiratory stridor and cough. Laryngoscopy revealed a flaccidity of all the supraglottic structures. The arytenoids and aryepiglottic folds were fluttering during inspiration. The stridor was improved after resecting the excess tissue with a CO2 laser. A barking cough appeared about 10 days after the operation and placebos were effected to it. We suggest that she had a tendency to inspiratory laryngeal collapse and that her symptoms might have been triggered by allergic and/or psychological factors.