Correlation of Subglottic Laryngitis in Children and Meteorological Parameters

Considering hospitalization as an indicator of the severity of acute subglottic laryngitis (ASL), the aim of this study was to determine the correlation between meteorological parameters and the incidence of ASL in children from the Tuzla area. The study included fifty-nine boys and girls from the Tuzla area, which were referred and hospitalized due to the ASL at the Clinic for diseases of ear, nose, throat, cervical and maxillofacial Surgery, University Clinical Center in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, during the period of March 21st 2006 until March 20th 2007. We formed two databases: 1. the database on each hospitalized child included data on Body Mass Index (BMI), sex and age. 2. Meteorology database which included information on humidity, air temperature, wind direction and atmospheric pressure, sorted by day, month and season. The results of this study indicate that the number of hospitalized boys due to ASL was significantly higher than girls (48 boys and 11 girls). Boys with an average BMI of 34.53 kg/m2 and 6.77 years of age suffered more frequently from the ASL (81.35%) than girls (18.64%) with an average BMI of 21.59 kg/m2 and the age of 3.8 years. The largest number of children with ASL was admitted during the period of lowest temperature (Fall-12.27°C; Winter-0.50°C), and the largest value of relative humidity (fall 77.33 mmHg-winter 82.50 mmHg). Therefore, this study indicates that meteorological factors (temperature, humidity, wind direction, atmospheric pressure) increase the risk of ASL with young children, primarily boys.