Dysphagia is a health problem characterized by difficulties swallowing food and, if not detected and treated properly, can interfere with eating and cause malnutrition or dehydration. In addition, those affected run a significant risk of choking.
Every December 12, World Dysphagia Day takes place and for this reason the Spanish Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery (SEORL-CCC) wanted to raise awareness about this disorder and remember how important it is to identify it in time, since In Spain there are two million people with dysphagia, but only 10% of cases are diagnosed, so the remaining 90% do not eat properly.
SEORL-CCC experts have also warned that 40% of Spanish children may suffer from dysphagia at some point in their lives. In recent years, the number of cases of childhood dysphagia has increased due to the improvement in survival rates of children with complex conditions, which has allowed a greater number of pediatric patients to survive serious illnesses, but often present additional complications such as dysphagia.
70% of children with neurological disorders suffer from dysphagia
Certain syndromes and pathologies that affect pediatric and neonatal ages entail a series of physiological or anatomical alterations that can trigger dysphagia. For example, it is estimated that the prevalence of dysphagia in children with developmental disorders would be 30-80%, and 19.2-99% in children with cerebral palsy.
Irritability, loss of appetite, and failure to gain weight are common symptoms of dysphagia in children
In fact, 70% of Spanish children with neurological disorders suffer from dysphagia, a serious problem that significantly affects their ability to swallow. The profile of pediatric patients with dysphagia shows that 2 out of 10 suffer from digestive pathologies, while 1 out of 10 suffer from associated respiratory diseases.
The symptoms of dysphagia in children vary depending on their age. In infants and young children, they include difficulty sucking, swallowing, or chewing, coughing or choking during feeding, frequent regurgitation, and refusal of certain foods. In older children, symptoms may include complaints of pain or discomfort when swallowing, difficulty chewing solid foods, and the development of recurrent pneumonia due to aspiration. Additionally, irritability, loss of appetite, and lack of weight gain are common in both age groups.
