Laryngitis

Description

Laryngitis is an inflammation of the voice box (larynx) from overuse, irritation or infection.

Inside the larynx are your vocal cords — two folds of mucous membrane covering muscle and cartilage. Normally, the vocal cords open and close smoothly, forming sounds through their movement and vibration.

But with laryngitis, your vocal cords become inflamed or irritated. This causes the vocal cords to swell, which distorts the sounds produced by air passing over them. As a result, your voice sounds hoarse. In some cases of laryngitis, your voice can become almost undetectable.

Laryngitis may be short-lived (acute) or long lasting (chronic). The majority of cases of laryngitis are caused by the temporary viral infection and are not serious. Persistent hoarseness is sometimes a sign of something more serious underlying medical condition.

Symptoms

In the majority of cases of laryngitis symptoms last for less than a couple of weeks, and are caused by something minor, such as a virus. Less frequently, laryngitis symptoms are caused by something more serious or long-lasting. Laryngitis signs and symptoms can include:

  • Hoarseness
  • Weak voice or voice loss
  • Tickling sensation and rawness in her throat
  • Sore throat
  • Dry throat
  • Dry cough

When to see a doctor

You can handle most cases of acute laryngitis with self-care measures, such as the rest of your voice and drink plenty of fluids. Strenuous use of their voice during an episode of acute laryngitis can damage your vocal cords.

Make an appointment with a doctor if your laryngitis symptoms last more than two weeks.

Seek medical attention right away if:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Cough with blood
  • You have a fever that does not go away
  • Have increased pain for weeks

Seek medical attention right away if your child:

  • It makes loud, sharp sounds of breathing by breathing in (stridor)
  • Drool more than usual
  • You have trouble swallowing.
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Have a fever

These signs and symptoms may indicate croup — inflammation of the larynx and airway just below it. Although croup can usually be treated at home, severe symptoms require medical attention. These symptoms may also indicate epiglottitis, an inflammation of the tissue that acts as a cap (epiglottis) to cover the trachea (windpipe), which can be deadly for children and adults.

Causes

Acute laryngitis

The majority of cases of laryngitis are temporary and improve after that the underlying cause of it gets better. Causes of acute laryngitis include:

  • Viral infections similar to those that cause the common cold
  • The Vocal strain, caused by the screams or the overuse of your voice
  • Bacterial infections, although these are less common

Chronic laryngitis

The laryngitis that lasts for more than three weeks is known as chronic laryngitis. This type of laryngitis is usually caused by exposure to irritating substances in the time. Chronic laryngitis can cause tension of the vocal cords, and the lesions or tumors on the vocal cords (polyps or nodules). Chronic laryngitis can be caused by:

  • The inhalation of irritants such as chemical fumes, allergens or smoke
  • Acid reflux, also called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  • Chronic sinusitis
  • The excessive use of alcohol
  • Habitual excessive use of the voice (as singers or cheer)
  • Smoking

Less common causes of chronic laryngitis include:

  • Bacterial or fungal infections
  • Infection with certain parasites

Other causes of chronic hoarseness include:

  • Cancer
  • Paralysis of the vocal cords, which may be the result of a nerve injury due to surgery, injury to the chest or neck, cancer, nervous disorders, or other health conditions
  • The bowing of the vocal cords

Risk factors

The risk factors for laryngitis include:

  • Having a respiratory infection, such as a cold, bronchitis or sinusitis
  • Exposure to irritants, such as cigarette smoke, excessive alcohol consumption, the acid of the stomach or of the chemicals in the work place
  • The excessive use of the voice, by talking too much, talking loudly, shouting or singing

Complications

In some cases of laryngitis, caused by the infection, the infection can spread to other parts of the respiratory tract.

Prevention

To avoid dryness or irritation of the vocal cords:

  • Avoid smoking and stay away from second hand smoke. The smoke dries your throat. It can also cause your vocal cords to become irritated.
  • Limit the consumption of alcohol and caffeine. These lead to the loss of total body water.
  • Drink lots of water. The fluids will help to keep the mucus in the throat, thin and easy to clear.
  • Keep the spicy foods from your diet. Spicy foods can cause stomach acid to go to the throat or esophagus. This can lead to heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
  • Include a variety of healthy foods in your diet. Eating fruits, vegetables and whole grains. These have several vitamins, such as vitamins a, E and C, which are important for the health in general. These foods can also help to keep the mucous membranes of the throat healthy.
  • Avoid clearing your throat. This does more harm than good, because it causes an abnormal vibration of the vocal cords and can increase inflammation. Clearing your throat, it also causes your throat to secrete more mucus and feel more irritated, what you want to clear your throat again.
  • To avoid infections of the upper respiratory tract. Wash your hands often and avoid close contact with people who have upper respiratory tract infections, such as colds.

Laryngitis

Diagnosis

The most common sign of laryngitis, hoarseness. Changes in your voice may vary with the degree of infection or irritation, ranging from mild hoarseness to the almost total loss of your voice. If you have hoarseness, chronic, your doctor may review your medical history and symptoms. He or she may want to hear his voice and to examine the vocal cords, and he or she may refer you to an ear, nose, and throat specialist.

These techniques are sometimes used to help diagnose laryngitis:

  • The laryngoscopy. In a procedure called a laryngoscopy, your doctor can visually examine the vocal cords through the use of a light and a small mirror to look at in the back of your throat. Or the doctor may use the fiber-optic laryngoscopy. This involves inserting a thin, flexible tube (endoscope) with a small camera and light through the nose or the mouth and in the back of your throat. Then, your doctor can see the movement of the vocal cords to speak.
  • The biopsy. If your doctor sees a suspicious area, he or she may do a biopsy to take a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope.

Treatment

Acute laryngitis is often heals by itself within a week or so. Self-care measures, such as the voice rest, drink fluids, and the humidification of air, it can also help to improve the symptoms.

Chronic laryngitis treatments are aimed at treating the underlying causes, such as heartburn, smoking or excessive alcohol consumption.

The medications that are used in some cases include:

  • Antibiotics. In almost all cases of laryngitis, an antibiotic is not going to do any good, because the cause is usually viral. But if you have a bacterial infection, the doctor may recommend an antibiotic.
  • Corticosteroids. At times, corticosteroids may help reduce the inflammation of the vocal cords. However, this treatment is only used when there is an urgent need for the treatment of laryngitis — and in some cases, when a child has laryngitis associated with croup.

You can also have the voice therapy to learn how to decrease the behaviors that worsen your voice.

In some cases, surgery may be needed.

Self-care

Some self-care methods and home treatments may relieve the symptoms of laryngitis and reduce strain on your voice:

  • Breathe in the moist air. Use a humidifier to keep the air through your home or office moist. Inhaling steam from a bowl of hot water or a hot shower.
  • Rest your voice as much as possible. Avoid speaking or singing loudly or for too long. If you need to speak to large groups, try to use a microphone or a megaphone.
  • Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration (avoid alcohol and caffeine).
  • Moisten your throat. Try sucking on lozenges, gargling with salt water or chew a piece of gum.
  • Avoid decongestants. These medications can dry out the throat.
  • Avoid whispering. This puts even more strain in his voice that normal speech does.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely to start by seeing your family doctor or pediatrician. You may be referred to a doctor trained in ear, nose and throat disorders.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment and know what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

  • Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. When you make the appointment, ask if there is something that you need to do beforehand.
  • Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
  • Write down key personal information, including major stresses or recent life changes.
  • Make a list of all the medicines, vitamins, and supplements you are taking.
  • Have a family member or friend along, if possible. Someone who accompanies you may remember the information that you missed or forgot.
  • Write questions to ask their doctor.

Prepare a list of questions will help you make the most of your time with your doctor. For laryngitis, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

  • What is likely causing my symptoms or condition?
  • What are other possible causes?
  • What tests do I need if any?
  • Is my condition likely temporary or chronic?
  • What is the best course of action?
  • What are the alternatives to the primary approach you're suggesting?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
  • Are there any restrictions I need to follow?
  • Should I see a specialist?
  • Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material I can take home? What sites do you recommend?

Do not hesitate to ask any other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor may ask you a series of questions, such as:

  • When did you begin experiencing symptoms?
  • The symptoms been continuous or occasional?
  • How severe are the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
  • Do you smoke?
  • Do you drink alcohol?
  • Do you have allergies? Have you recently had a cold?
  • Did you recently have overused his vocal cords, such as, for example, sing or shout?
Symptoms and treatment of Laryngitis