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Q31.5: Congenital laryngomalacia

Your larynx has not developed properly.

The larynx can be seen particularly well in men as a bulging area at the front of the neck. This area is also called the Adam’s apple. The larynx is important for breathing and speaking. It consists mainly of cartilage, ligaments, and muscles. The vocal cords are also located in the larynx. Beneath the larynx the trachea begins. The epiglottis also forms part of the larynx. The epiglottis closes over the entrance to the windpipe (trachea) while you’re swallowing. This prevents food or liquids from entering the windpipe from the throat.

While developing in the womb, many different types of tissue develop in the body. The organs and body parts develop out of the various types of tissue. If tissue fails to develop properly, defects can occur.

The cartilage of your larynx is softer than usual. The larynx is then not so firm and stable as usual. This may mean that the epiglottis is sucked in when inhaling, and that it blocks the airways.

If the cartilage of the larynx does not develop properly, breathing problems may occur after the birth. If there are breathing problems the skin can turn blueish. There may also be a whistling sound when breathing in. Problems may also occur when swallowing.

Additional indicator

On medical documents, the ICD code is often appended by letters that indicate the diagnostic certainty or the affected side of the body.

  • G: Confirmed diagnosis
  • V: Tentative diagnosis
  • Z: Condition after
  • A: Excluded diagnosis
  • L: Left
  • R: Right
  • B: Both sides

Further information

Note

This information is not intended for self-diagnosis and does not replace professional medical advice from a doctor. If you find an ICD code on a personal medical document, please also note the additional indicator used for diagnostic confidence.
Your doctor will assist you with any health-related questions and explain the ICD diagnosis code to you in a direct consultation if necessary.

Source

Provided by the non-profit organization “Was hab’ ich?” gemeinnützige GmbH on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG).