Inflammatory laryngeal diseases, such as viral laryngitis and acute supraglottitis, can significantly affect a patient’s quality of life, primarily through their effects on the voice and swallowing function. Deglutition disorder, or dysphagia, is a common symptom in patients with laryngeal inflammation. The symptoms of inflammatory laryngeal diseases are often similar and difficult to differentiate, regardless of the specific type of disease. In addition, several systemic diseases can affect the larynx and trachea, presenting symptoms ranging from hoarseness to airway obstruction. Differentiating between laryngeal inflammatory diseases and systemic diseases in adults and children that cause dysphagia is essential to ensure prompt and appropriate treatment.

A 74-year-old woman presented with a progressive pattern of dysphagia and odynophagia over one month.Magnetic resonance imaging of the neck revealed diffuse swelling from the tongue base and velum extending to the posterior pharyngeal wall. Instrumental evaluation of swallowing showed decreased peristalsis in the esophageal phase, accompanied by severe swelling of the hypopharynx, which limited laryngeal elevation and subsequently led to decreased bolus clearance and impaired airway protection. Laboratory studies revealed a 61% increase in eosinophil count. An endoscopic biopsy of the esophagus confirmed the diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis. The patient was administered intravenous dexamethasone at a total dosage of 45 mg/day for 7 days. The eosinophil count dropped to the normal range, correlating with the improvement in dysphagia and aspiration. Eosinophilic esophagitis often presents in children and rarely involves the oropharyngeal structures. Due to its specific involvement of the esophagus, it seldom leads to aspiration. By contrast, the extension of eosinophilic inflammation from the esophagus to the oropharynx in this case resulted in atypical symptoms such as odynophagia and aspiration. The therapeutic approach can be challenging due to the difficulty in administering topical steroids, which are often the treatment of choice. However, the condition showed an excellent response to intravenous steroid therapy.

Critically ill patients often face challenges in maintaining oral hygiene care (OHC) due to altered consciousness, prolonged hospitalization, and mechanical ventilation. Poor oral health can lead to an increased risk of pneumonia, oral infections, and systemic complications. Effective OHC is crucial to prevent these complications and improve patient outcomes. OHC in the intensive care unit should be performed based on the patient’s specific conditions using appropriate tools after a thorough assessment according to established oral care guidelines. In conclusion, implementing OHC strategies can significantly contribute to patient safety and the quality of care.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is considered in patients requiring long-term enteral nutrition when gastrointestinal function is normal, but oral intake is insufficient. Nutrition by PEG is superior to nasogastric nutrition in terms of patient comfort, long-term use, and nutritional efficiency. However, it requires careful selection of target patients, appropriate insertion methods, and diligent monitoring to manage potential complications. It is essential to ensure proper administration of anticoagulants and antithrombotic agents before and after the procedure. Use of prophylactic antibiotics can reduce the risk of wound infections. Although most complications arising from PEG are minor, careful monitoring should always be undertaken because sometimes surgical treatment of the complication may be required, or it may even be serious and life-threatening. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the indications that require PEG, the method of insertion, the preparation process, and the complications that may occur during or after the PEG.

Objective: Oral frailty is associated with a decline in overall function in the elderly and increases the risk of dysphagia and aspiration pneumonia. Early diagnosis is essential to prevent these issues. This study aimed to determine the correlation between the Korean oral frailty diagnostic criteria and oral diadochokinesis (ODK) in community-dwelling elderly individuals. Methods: Six diagnostic criteria for oral frailty were examined and ODK was assessed in 100 elderly individuals aged 60 years and above residing in the Gangwon State. The correlation was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation, Spearman’s rank correlation, and multiple regression analysis. Results: The study found that elderly individuals in the later stages of life had significantly lower tongue pressure, occlusal force, chewing ability, and ODK compared to those in earlier stages. Additionally, increased age and decreased chewing ability and tongue pressure were significantly associated with a decline in ability to rapidly repeat monosyllables /pʌ/tʌ/kʌ/. Conclusion As age increases in the elderly population, the frequency of /pʌ/tʌ/kʌ/ in ODK assessments may serve as a simple screening tool for oral frailty in community-dwelling elderly individuals.

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence, status, severity, frequency, and impact on life of drooling in children with cerebral palsy. Methods: A total of 74 children with cerebral palsy, aged 2-6 years (53.68±17.33 months), who exhibited drooling symptoms were assessed using the Drooling Severity and Frequency Scale (DSFS) and the Drooling Impact Scale (DIS) to determine the status, severity, frequency, and impact of drooling in drooling group and control group. The study also examined differences in drooling-related factors based on gender, age, and prematurity status. Results: The overall prevalence of drooling was 60.8%, 35.6% in those with spastic quadriplegia, and 77.8% in children at Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level III-V. Significant differences were found in drooling severity based on gender, prematurity, and age. Higher scores were observed for drooling severity and frequency, frequency of wiping the mouth, and the impact of drooling on the child’s life compare to control group.Although a few had undergone drooling-related treatments, many parents expressed a desire to receive treatment. It was reported that treatment for drooling was primarily provided by occupational therapists through referrals to rehabilitation medicine, with dysphagia rehabilitation and oral motor therapy being the main interventions. Conclusion By utilizing standardized assessment tools, the severity of drooling according to the specific conditions of children with disabilities was assessed. It is believed that the necessary steps to be taken include identifying the cause of drooling and setting appropriate treatment goals, followed by the provision for a suitable intervention.

Inflammatory laryngeal diseases, such as viral laryngitis and acute supraglottitis, can significantly affect a patient’s quality of life, primarily through their effects on the voice and swallowing function. Deglutition disorder, or dysphagia, is a common symptom in patients with laryngeal inflammation. The symptoms of inflammatory laryngeal diseases are often similar and difficult to differentiate, regardless of the specific type of disease. In addition, several systemic diseases can affect the larynx and trachea, presenting symptoms ranging from hoarseness to airway obstruction. Differentiating between laryngeal inflammatory diseases and systemic diseases in adults and children that cause dysphagia is essential to ensure prompt and appropriate treatment.

A 74-year-old woman presented with a progressive pattern of dysphagia and odynophagia over one month.Magnetic resonance imaging of the neck revealed diffuse swelling from the tongue base and velum extending to the posterior pharyngeal wall. Instrumental evaluation of swallowing showed decreased peristalsis in the esophageal phase, accompanied by severe swelling of the hypopharynx, which limited laryngeal elevation and subsequently led to decreased bolus clearance and impaired airway protection. Laboratory studies revealed a 61% increase in eosinophil count. An endoscopic biopsy of the esophagus confirmed the diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis. The patient was administered intravenous dexamethasone at a total dosage of 45 mg/day for 7 days. The eosinophil count dropped to the normal range, correlating with the improvement in dysphagia and aspiration. Eosinophilic esophagitis often presents in children and rarely involves the oropharyngeal structures. Due to its specific involvement of the esophagus, it seldom leads to aspiration. By contrast, the extension of eosinophilic inflammation from the esophagus to the oropharynx in this case resulted in atypical symptoms such as odynophagia and aspiration. The therapeutic approach can be challenging due to the difficulty in administering topical steroids, which are often the treatment of choice. However, the condition showed an excellent response to intravenous steroid therapy.

Critically ill patients often face challenges in maintaining oral hygiene care (OHC) due to altered consciousness, prolonged hospitalization, and mechanical ventilation. Poor oral health can lead to an increased risk of pneumonia, oral infections, and systemic complications. Effective OHC is crucial to prevent these complications and improve patient outcomes. OHC in the intensive care unit should be performed based on the patient’s specific conditions using appropriate tools after a thorough assessment according to established oral care guidelines. In conclusion, implementing OHC strategies can significantly contribute to patient safety and the quality of care.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is considered in patients requiring long-term enteral nutrition when gastrointestinal function is normal, but oral intake is insufficient. Nutrition by PEG is superior to nasogastric nutrition in terms of patient comfort, long-term use, and nutritional efficiency. However, it requires careful selection of target patients, appropriate insertion methods, and diligent monitoring to manage potential complications. It is essential to ensure proper administration of anticoagulants and antithrombotic agents before and after the procedure. Use of prophylactic antibiotics can reduce the risk of wound infections. Although most complications arising from PEG are minor, careful monitoring should always be undertaken because sometimes surgical treatment of the complication may be required, or it may even be serious and life-threatening. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the indications that require PEG, the method of insertion, the preparation process, and the complications that may occur during or after the PEG.