Causes, symptoms and treatment of Laryngitis
Causes, symptoms and treatment. Laryngitis and his ills
Laryngitis and his ills. It is an inflammation of the larynx, especially the vocal cords. The inflammation prevents the vocal cords from moving normally. It also prevents them from vibrating freely when air passes through. Talking becomes painful. Voice is altered, hoarse, or even dead.
There are two types of laryngitis: acute laryngitis and chronic laryngitis. There are also differences between laryngitis in children and adults. Click here to join us
laryngitis disease, what cause laryngitis, how to treat laryngitis, treatment, symptoms
Causes Laryngitis and his ills
Acute laryngitis
This is by far the most common form. It occurs suddenly and subsides after a few days or weeks. The most common causes of acute laryngitis in adults are infectious diseases and traumatic laryngitis. But there are other more rare causes.
– Infectious laryngitis in adults is more often caused by bacteria than by viruses. They are often associated with risk factors (tobacco, alcohol, dusty environment, fumes, vocal abuse, humidity, cold, gastroesophageal reflux, respiratory allergy…
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– Traumatic laryngitis can be due to an overexertion of the vocal cords leading to a hematoma at the laryngeal level: shouting at a party, singing at the top of your voice, screaming during a big stress… It can also be a trauma due to a shock (sport, accident, aggression) or an intubation during a medical procedure.
– More rare causes of laryngitis exist such as acute laryngitis due to an allergy (allergic shock) where the larynx undergoes a sudden oedema, to toxic fumes, or to radiotherapy of the neck area.
Chronic laryngitis in adults Laryngitis and his ills
When symptoms last longer than three weeks, it is called chronic laryngitis. In more than 90% of cases, the patient is a male smoker between 45 and 55 years of age. Click here
Chronic laryngitis is usually caused by prolonged exposure to irritating factors. A transformations of the larynx are sometimes permanent and can cause acute laryngitis repeatedly, in professional singers for example. The causes of chronic laryngitis are :
– repeated exposure to toxic fumes, allergenic substances ;
– chronic inhalation of irritating products (tobacco, dust, asbestos, glass wool…);
– problems of gastro-esophageal reflux (acid reflux) irritating the larynx;
– chronic sinusitis or nasal discharge in the larynx (posterior rhinorrhea);
– excessive and chronic consumption of alcohol, which is an irritant when associated with other irritants (tobacco…)
– excessive and repeated solicitation of the voice;
– the use of inhaled corticosteroids;
– Radiation therapy to the neck area (to treat cancer);
– pre-cancerous or cancerous lesions of the larynx;
– vocal cord paralysis caused by stroke or injury.
Causes of laryngitis in children Laryngitis and his ills
Laryngitis in children is often a respiratory emergency. It can be due to :
– a winter virus and is more common in boys;
– bacterium, haemophilus influenzae, but this is becoming rarer due to the vaccination against this bacterium;
– a laryngeal spasm, linked to a coughing fit or the spasm of the sob triggered by anger or crying. Very shocking, with frequent loss of consciousness, it is nevertheless the most benign form of laryngitis in children;
– diphtheria, which is very rare since normally all children are vaccinated;
– a virus causing another disease such as measles, mumps, rubella, but most children are vaccinated. Chicken pox, flu or herpes virus infections can also cause laryngitis;
– an inhaled foreign body.
When to seek help
In most cases, acute adult laryngitis can be treated at home with rest and plenty of water. Using a humidifier or lozenges can help relieve the throat.
In adults, if symptoms last more than two weeks, it is advisable to consult a doctor.
But in some cases, especially in children, it can be very serious and require emergency hospitalization. It is therefore necessary to call a doctor very quickly in case of serious signs:
In children
Children under 5 years of age, it is called « false croup » rather than laryngitis. See a doctor immediately if your child:
– makes high-pitched sounds when breathing ;
– salivates more than usual;
– trouble swallowing;
– trouble breathing;
– Has a fever over 39°C (103°F).
Signs of laryngitis:
– child is breathing slowly and has trouble breathing in;
– struggles to breathe;
– a shrill sound is heard when breathing.
Signs of serious laryngitis: Laryngitis and his ills
– Child has difficulty breathing for more than an hour;
– the child is very young (the younger the child, the more urgent it is to call a doctor)
– Child is pale;
– sweating;
– the heart is beating very fast.
Signs of extreme severity, prompting an emergency call to 15:
– he needs to take a breath, or on the contrary, he breathes very quickly ;
– is breathing very shallowly because he can no longer breathe deeply;
– he is no longer normally conscious (agitation, drowsiness, confusion);
– is blue (lips in particular).
A birth laryngitis exists in some newborns, due to a laryngomalacia, or congenital laryngeal stridor.
This is a congenital anomaly of the larynx. The larynx is too soft and during breathing, from birth or after a few days of life, a high-pitched fruit or a permanent or intermittent snoring occurs. Then this evolves to regress around the age of 6 months.
