A study of etiology and demographic characteristics of chronic hoarseness of voice at the Kenyatta National Hospital Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

This was a prospective study on the Etiology of Chronic Hoarseness of Voice (HOV) and demographic characteristics of patients attending Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Ear, Nose and Throat, Head and Neck Surgical Department (ENT/HNS) and Ward. 126 patients inducted in the study had chronic Hoarseness of voice for two or more weeks. The patients age ranged from 2.16-80yrs (mean of 38.15yrs).The male to female ratio was 1.2: 1 The commonest causes of Chronic Hoarseness of voice were due to inflammations or infectious origin predisposing to chronic Laryngitis(56.3%).Among this group were Vocal or singers nodules(l5.l%),Laryngitis due to GERDILPR(l4.3%),Chronic simple Laryngitis(9.5%) and TB Laryngitis(7.1 %). Neoplasm (malignant) constituted 25.4% of the total patients while FVD was found to be 12.7%.The Duration of Hoarseness ranged from 2weeks to 52yrs (mean-29.73 months).One patient presented with HOV secondary to a large congenital web after 52 years. The mean without this patient was 24.5 months. 69.8% of patient's with Chronic Hoarseness of voice were referrals. Apart from the change of voice other common associated symptoms were throat pains, Odynophonia and cough