Causes of Hoarseness in Benin City, Nigeria

Study background: A good number of cases of hoarseness are seen in the Ear, Nose, Throat, Head and Neck (ENTH & N) Surgery clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Nigeria. Hoarseness has different causes, some of which are life-threatening; this study was done to determine the causes.

Material and methods: A prospective study of all patients that presented with hoarseness in our clinic between January, 2009 and December, 2010 was carried out. The patients’ history and examinations findings were noted.

Results: Eighty six patients; 49 males and 37 females presented with hoarseness. Ages ranged from 2.17years to 90.00 years, with an average age of 45.67 years. The main causes of hoarseness were; inflammatory (27.91%), carcinoma of the larynx (13.96%) and tuberculous laryngitis (9.30%).The duration of hoarseness before presentation in the hospital ranged from 1 day to 5475 days with an average duration of 539.06 days. Description of the characteristics of hoarseness was dependent on the aetiological factors; with cancer of the larynx presenting with progressive, unremitting or constant hoarseness while inflammatory lesions presented more with intermittent hoarseness.

Conclusion: Chronic laryngitis, cancer of the larynx and tuberculous laryngitis were the commonest causes of hoarseness in this study.