Characteristics influencing acute laryngitis and laryngeal obstruction in children: A retrospective study

Acute laryngitis lesions without appropriate management can lead to laryngeal obstruction, which is a life-threatening disease in children. This study analyzes the clinical characteristics that influence laryngeal obstruction in children with acute laryngitis. A total of 390 children who were treated in the hospital from February 2021 to February 2024 were retrospectively divided into 5 groups according to the degree of laryngeal obstruction (no, I°, II°, III°, and IV° laryngeal obstructions). The higher the degree of obstruction, the more significant the symptoms between the subgroups (P < .05). The sore throat, hoarseness, wheezing, barking cough, dyspnea, diffuse congestion and swelling of the laryngeal mucosa, and vocal cord congestion are most significant symptoms. The levels of biochemical markers in the IV° laryngeal obstruction group were higher than in the other 4 groups (P < .05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-17, and interferon-gamma levels were risk factors for acute laryngitis complicated by laryngeal obstruction. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17, and interferon-gamma levels were risk factors for severe laryngeal obstruction in children. These indicators should be concerned timely in monitoring the progression of laryngeal obstruction in children.