International Journal of Medical and Health Research

author(s)
Daniel Aliyu, Stephen Yikawe

Abstract
Background: Human papilloma virus types 6 and 11 have been implicated as the cause of Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis, which is the most common benign laryngeal neoplasm amongst children. Objective: To report therapeutic dilemma and its implication among children in developing country. Methodology: Clinical records of 28 patients who were prospectively recruited at the department of otorhinolaryngology of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto and followed up over a 12 years (2006-2017) were analyzed. They all had Endoscopic surgical extirpation of the lesion under general anaesthesia and histology of the specimen confirmed the diagnosis. Results: A total of 28 cases were analyzed, 20 (71.4%) males and 8 (28.6%) females with an M: F ratio of 2.5:1. Age range is between 2 – 15 years with mean age of 6.8years. The highest incidence was 53.6% in patients within the age group of 1-5 years. Hoarseness was the commonest presenting feature 28(100%) followed by upper airway obstruction in 20(71.4%) necessitating emergency tracheostomy. All the patients had rigid endoscopic surgical excision of the lesion with no adjuvant therapy. In 23(82.1%) of patients, Vocal cords were the commonest site of the lesion. Conclusion: There is a rise in the incidence of tracheostomy for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis in our region due to late presentation and this constitute a therapeutic dilemma. Surgery is still the mainstay of treatment to maintain adequate airway.