Dysphonia: Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Risk Factors at Tertiary Health Care Center

The physical, mental, financial, social and emotional constraints encountered by an individual having voice disorder can be easily anticipated as communication is the utmost need in day to day life and some professions. To study the clinical epidemiology of voice disorders in surrounding population and identify the risk factors. It also intended to make people aware of vocal hygiene programme. This observational, prospective, cross sectional study was conducted in Chirayu medical college and hospital, Bhopal from September 2016 to August 2017. All the patients were subjected to diagnostic flexible video laryngoscopy and stroboscopy and in some patients Chest X-ray PA view, USG Neck, Computerized tomography and Magnetic resonance imaging were advised for the confirmation. Amongst 45 patients who formed this study group, male preponderance was seen with male to female ratio of 2.2:1. Laryngeal malignancy (13 cases) was the commonest pathology, followed by vocal polyp (7 cases) and vocal cord palsy (6 cases). Rare cases of tubercular laryngitis and hemorrhage were also diagnosed. The largest group of patients belonged to labor/farming occupation suggesting the rural referral to this tertiary care center followed by housewives.