Table I.
Causes of oropharyngeal dysphagia | |
Neurological diseases (34.9%) | Motor neuron disease; myopathy; birth asphyxia; cerebral palsy; microcephaly; periventricular leukomalacia |
Infective/flogistic pathologies | Neurosyphilis; herpetic meningoencephalitis; congenital cytomegalovirus infection; dermatomyositis; epiglottitis |
Structural disorders (congenital or acquired) | Restricted lingular frenulum; cleft lip/palate; choanal atresia or stenosis (e.g. Charge syndrome); goitre; caustic injuries |
Causes of esophageal dysphagia | |
Motility disorders | Achalasia; scleroderma; diffuse oesophageal spasm |
Intrinsic structural disorders | Diverticula; stenosis; oesophageal plications |
Extrinsic structural disorders | Vertebral anomalies; foreign body: mediastinal lesions |
Oesophagitis | Herpes-simplex virus; Candida; gastro-oesophageal reflux disease; Crohn’s disease; eosinophilic oesophagitis; caustic agents |
Causes related to prematurity (10-49%) | |
Low gestational age at birth; low birth weight; comorbidities associated with prematurity | |
Cardio-respiratory diseases | |
Broncho-pulmonary dysplasia; laryngo-/tracheo-/bronchomalacia; cyanotic and acyanotic heart defects | |
Iatrogenic complications | |
Tracheostomy; feeding tube; respiratory support |