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.