Diverged Otorhinolaryngological Manifestations of Reflux Disease in Indian Condition: A Base Line Data Generation

Abstract

Aims: To generate base line data of different otorhinolaryngological manifestations of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) disease in Uttar Pradesh, India. Materials and methods: Fifty cases were selected from OPD setup and diagnosed to be having LPR disease based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were then explained the necessary details and purpose of the study and were subjected to further standard protocol. The patients with ear complaints were advised pure tone and impedance audiometry. The findings were charted and data extrapolated. Results: Among various complaints, the most common complaint was lump in the throat; others were frequent throat clearing, cough, choking, hoarseness, and excessive throat mucus. The nasal complaints were nasal discharge and blockage, and ear complaints were otalgia and hard of hearing. Laryngoscopy showed hyperemia of larynx and vocal fold edema, ventricular obliteration, laryngeal edema, posterior commissure hypertrophy, thick endolaryngeal mucus, pseudosulcus vocalis and vocal cord granulations. Nasal findings were rhinitis, congestion, and turbinate hypertrophy. Ear complaints had tube dysfunction. On upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy most of the patients had normal study; some showed esophagitis or hiatus hernia. Mean body mass index of the study population was in normal range. Conclusion: Globus, a common presenting complaint in ENT outdoors is usually related to reflux. Reflux was found associated with Eustachian tube dysfunction and rhinitis. Results demonstrated that obesity and esophagitis are not associated with LPR. Clinical significance: This study investigated a range of parameters responsible for LPR disease. The understanding of the entity of LPR and its manifestations is far from being completely understood. Present-day thrust is in the direction of increasing importance of LPR being recognized in ENT practice. The results and their analyses created an important base line document for the population of the state of Uttar Pradesh (population about 200 million) and adjoining states who commonly call on the Sir Sunderlal Hospital, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.