The Impact of Job Environment on the Development of Reinke's Edema

Abstract

Reinke's edema (RE) is a condition in which there is bilateral fusiform swelling of the vocal folds as a result of fluid collection in the Reinke's space, the superficial layer of the lamina propria. This condition can lead to dysphonia and changes in quality and pitch of the voice. Occupational factors such as exposure to harmful substances, repetitive vocal strain, and noisy background may contribute to the development of Reinke's edema. Objective: to explore if job environment can lead to the development of Reinke's edema or not. Subjects and Methods: This study was carried out on (52) persons with age from 20-60. Subjects were divided into two main groups, the study group (G1) comprised of 26 patients with Reinke’s edema and collected from Phoniatric Unit at Minia University Hospital, and the control group (G2) comprised of 26 persons without Reinke’s edema or any laryngeal lesions and were randomly selected from patients with speech disorders and the relatives of patients that visit Phoniatric Unit in Minia University Hospital. Results: noisy and dusty job environments have a role in development of Reinke’s edema.