INTRODUCTION
Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) refers to a phenomenon where there is back flow of contents of the stomach into the lowermost part of the pharynx.1-3 It has been described as an extraesophageal variant of GERD.1-5 . It is believed that the primary defect in LPR might be upper esophageal sphincter dysfunction in less than half of LPR patients with GERD.2,4,6-9 For the larynx, as few as three episodes of reflux in a week have been shown to be associated with the development of significant disease.2
It has been estimated that 4%–10% of the patients referred to an otolaryngology clinic have symptoms and/or signs related to LPR.2 The LPR may be manifested as laryngeal symptoms, such as cough, sore throat, hoarseness, dysphonia, and globus, as well as signs of laryngeal irritation at laryngoscopy.1-4,6,8,10-12.
Studies have found the prevalence of GERD to increase almost every year and in the study which was conducted by El-Serag, such prevalence was found to increase by 4% every year since 1976, 13 and similarly Altman et al found a significant increase in hospital visits due to similar complaints and such increase has been found to account for the majority of cases of dysphonia.5,9
A diagnosis of LPR may be established by asking patients about specific symptoms, laryngoscopy or 24-hour double probe pH monitoring which remains to be the diagnostic test for LPRD.1,2,10-12
In recent decades, there has been an association between LPR and certain clinical conditions laryngeal cancer and chronic laryngitis.2 It is important that Otorhinolaryngologists do not miss the diagnosis of LPRD as it is difficult to identify and presents with non-specific symptoms. This study was designed to describe the utility of reflux finding score and reflux symptom index in diagnosis of LPRD at Tanzania’s largest city.