Definition of Laryngeal papillomatosis, juvenile

Laryngeal papillomatosis, juvenile: Juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis involves the growth of numerous warty growths on the vocal cords in children and young adults.

A baby can contract juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis by being contaminated with the human papilloma virus (HPV) during birth through the vaginal canal of a mother with genital warts (which are also due to HPV). Each year, about 300 infants are thus born with the virus on their vocal cords.

The treatment of juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis is usually by surgical excision. Recurrences of laryngeal papillomatosis are, unfortunately, frequent. Remission may occur after several years.