A Systematic Review of the Association Between Acid Reflux and Pediatric Laryngomalacia

Abstract

Background: Laryngomalacia (LM) is a prevalent cause of stridor in infants and young children, often associated with episodes of mildly acidic gastroesophageal reflux that can damage the supraglottic tissues and worsen airway collapse. There is a need for further research to determine the presence of the gastric proteolytic enzyme pepsin in the oral secretions of patients with less severe LM, as it has been proposed as a potential biomarker for both weakly acidic and non-acid reflux events. Methods: This systematic review adhered to PRISMA 2020 guidelines and focused on full-text English literature published from 2014 to 2024. Result: Following a thorough screening process consisting of three stages, six papers were determined to have pertinent connections to our ongoing comprehensive investigation. Following that, the text as a whole was thoroughly studied and these sections received more attention. Conclusion: Recent studies have identified a connection between laryngomalacia (LM) and the presence of pepsin, a potential biomarker for airway reflux. However, the evidence does not indicate significant differences in its impact. While pepsin is a common comorbidity in LM patients and may serve as a marker for reflux, its detrimental effects on proximal airways remain uncertain.