Dysphonia / hoarseness – Paediatric
Dysphonia / hoarseness – Paediatric
| This RAC is applicable to referrals for patients aged <16 years only. Please refer to the Adult ENT RAC for referrals for patients aged 16 years or more. |
Emergency and immediate referrals
Referral to Emergency Department
If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or seek emergency medical advice if in a remote region:
- Abscess or haematoma (e.g. peritonsillar, parapharyngeal (quinsy), salivary, neck or retropharyngeal abscess)
- Acutely enlarging neck mass with any associated airway symptoms e.g. stridor, drooling, dysphagia etc
- Airway compromise: severe stridor/drooling/ breathing difficulty/acute, sudden voice change/severe odynophagia
- Foreign body (button batteries – inhaled or ingested), if suspicion of button battery immediate emergency review
- Hoarseness associated with neck trauma or surgery
- If new onset hoarse voice and any airway obstructive symptoms
- Post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage
- Trauma
Immediately contact on-call registrar or service to arrange an immediate ENT assessment (seen within 7 days) for:
To contact the relevant service, please see HealthPathways: Acute Paediatric ENT Assessment
| Presenting issues |
- Abnormal voice > 1 month – i.e. hoarse, rough, raspy, strained, weak, breathy
|
| Mandatory referral information (referral will be returned if this information is not included) |
|
History
- Details of previous treatment and outcome
If unable to attach reports, please include relevant information/findings in the body of the referral
Referrer to state reason if not able to include mandatory information in referral (e.g. patient unable to access test due to geographical location or financial cost)
|
| Highly desirable referral information |
- Speech pathology assessment results
|
Indicative triage category
| Indicative triage category |
Category 1
Appointment within 30 days |
- No defined category 1 criteria
|
Category 2
Appointment within 90 days |
- >1 month of moderate to severe hoarseness and voice loss
- Suspicion of any of the following:
- papilloma
- thrush
- vocal cord palsy
|
Category 3
Appointment within 365 days |
|
Last reviewed: 04-10-2023