Dysphagia in Children

Awareness of swallowing dysfunction in the pediatric population is growing. As many as 50% of parents report their otherwise healthy children having a feeding problem. The causes of dysphagia in children are varied and often multifactorial. Dysphagia may manifest in children who are generally in good condition. However, it is more prevalent among individuals with a medical background of preterm, neuromuscular abnormalities, cardiac disorders, anatomical malformations of the upper aerodigestive tract, and gastrointestinal tract disorders. The workup process encompasses clinical feeding evaluations, imaging investigations, and endoscopic evaluations. The effectiveness of dysphagia management is contingent upon the underlying etiology. Assessment by a multidisciplinary team can facilitate accurate diagnosis and guide management.