Laryngitis: symptoms, causes, drugs, etc. • hello healthy

Definition

What is laryngitis (inflammation of the vocal cords)?

Laryngitis or inflammation of the vocal cords is a condition in which the vocal cords swell so that the voice becomes hoarse. The vocal cords are folds of the mucous membrane that are located in the larynx or voice box.

Inflammation of the vocal cords can be caused by a viral infection, irritation, or overuse of the vocal cords.

In addition to hoarseness, laryngitis is usually characterized by pain in the throat and sore throat when swallowing. Swollen vocal cords may also cause respiratory distress by blocking airflow.

Laryngitis usually goes away within 2-3 weeks, but this disease can last longer, so it is called chronic laryngitis.

The difference between chronic and acute inflammation of the larynx

Chronic laryngitis occurs when inflammation of the vocal cords occurs more than three weeks after the initial symptoms were discovered.

Reporting from the Columbia University website, in addition to the duration of symptoms, the process of chronic and acute laryngitis also has differences:

• The symptoms of inflammation in chronic laryngitis are more serious than in acute laryngitis.
• Acute laryngeal inflammation can be relieved by drinking lots of water and using antibiotics (if caused by a bacterial infection) and other drugs to relieve symptoms such as coughing.
• Medication can be ineffective at treating chronic laryngitis. Therefore, other treatments such as voice therapy and reduced frequency of speech are needed.
• Chronic laryngitis can also be a symptom of a more serious health condition, such as an autoimmune disease that causes persistent inflammation.

However, in general, chronic laryngitis can still be cured without causing a significant decrease in voice quality.

How common is this condition?

Inflammation of the vocal cords is quite common, especially in people who work as announcers, speakers or singers.

People who consume excess alcohol or smoke regularly and are exposed to the smoke are at risk for vocal cord disorders, including throat irritation that causes inflammation of the vocal cords.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of laryngitis (inflammation of the vocal cords)?

The main symptom of laryngitis is that the voice becomes heavy, hoarse, or goes away. Other symptoms can include:

• Sore throat
• Fever
• Hoarse or hoarse voice
• Swollen glands around the neck
• Dry or itchy throat
• Enlarged lymph nodes or glands in the neck

These symptoms can appear alternately, but your voice will be hoarse as long as the disease is still attacking.

Inflammation due to bacterial or viral infection also causes symptoms such as fatigue, headache, cold symptoms, and dry cough

Swollen glands around the throat can also be a sign of inflammatory tonsillitis (tonsillitis). Laryngitis can indeed occur at the same time as other strep throat.

When should I see a doctor?

Laryngitis is usually not a serious condition, laryngitis can heal on its own as long as you get plenty of rest and drink water.

Even so, you should still consult an ENT specialist if you have chronic laryngitis, which is when symptoms last more than 2 weeks.

In addition, you also need immediate medical attention if you experience the following symptoms:

• Sound is lost
• Hard to breathe
• Coughing up blood
• High fever and won't go away
• The sore throat is getting worse
• Difficulty swallowing
• Saliva from the mouth
• Weight loss drastically

Symptoms of inflammation of the vocal cords that don't go away can indicate a serious disease that affects the vocal cords.

Therefore, if you have signs or symptoms as above or other questions, please consult your doctor immediately.

Complications

What are the complications caused by laryngitis (inflammation of the vocal cords)?

Chronic inflammation of the larynx that is not treated properly can also cause serious damage to the vocal cords. As a result, polyps or lumps can appear on the surface of the vocal cords. This will cause the sore throat to get worse.

Some forms of laryngitis in children can cause obstruction (blockage) of the airways that is dangerous and can lead to death, such as Croup's disease and epiglottitis.

Cause

What causes laryngitis (inflammation of the vocal cords)?

There are various causes of hoarseness due to inflammation of the vocal cords. Acute and chronic laryngitis can be caused by different factors.

Some of the things that most often cause acute laryngitis are:

• Viral infections such as flu or cold
• Vocal cord injury from excessive use of voice such as frequent singing or shouting
• Bacterial infection, but not common
• Allergy

Meanwhile, inflammation of the vocal cords can last longer (chronic laryngitis) because it is caused by:

• Constantly exposed to irritants such as chemicals, pollution and dust
• Have acid reflux
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Experiencing recurrent acute inflammation of the larynx
• Too often speaking in a high tone or shouting
• Have repeated respiratory infections
• Use of steroid inhaler drugs
• Chronic sinusitis
• Exposure to irritants such as
• Have a history of chronic inflammatory diseases such as tunerculosis

Some uncommon causes of chronic inflammation of the vocal cords include a bacterial, fungal, or certain type of parasite infection.

Risk factors

What increases the risk of laryngitis (inflammation of the vocal cords)?

There are many factors that cause a person to have a greater chance of experiencing laryngitis, namely:

• Respiratory tract infections, such as flu, bronchitis, sinusitis.
• Exposure to irritants such as cigarette smoke, drinking too much acid, or working chemicals.
• Excessive use of your voice, such as talking too much, too loudly, shouting, or singing.
• Having a disease that weakens the immune system, such as autoimmunity, HIV AIDS or undergoing chemotherapy treatment and taking corticosteroid drugs on a long-term basis.

Having these risk factors does not mean you have inflammation of the vocal cords. Consult your doctor for more information.

Diagnosis

What are the usual tests to diagnose this condition?

When diagnosing, the doctor will perform a physical examination to observe symptoms. For clearer observation, an ENT specialist usually needs to perform a laryngoscopy or biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.

If you suspect that the laryngitis is caused by a bacterial or fungal infection, the doctor will perform a swab to collect a sample of fluid in the back of the throat. The sample will then be analyzed in the laboratory. Blood tests may also be done.

Patients with a hoarse voice for more than 1 month (especially smokers) need examination of the ears, nose, and throat to check the throat and upper airway.

Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are my treatment options for laryngitis (inflammation of the vocal cords)?

Acute vocal cord inflammation can subside on its own in less than a week.

However, you can do treatments like the following to relieve symptoms and speed up recovery.

• Taking pain relievers such as ibuprofen, paracetamol, and aspirin can help relieve symptoms of pain, fever, and swelling.
• Take a dry cough reliever
• If the cause of inflammation of the vocal cords is a bacterial infection, your doctor will give you antibiotics for strep throat, such as penicillin or amoxicillin.
• If caused by allergies, symptoms can be treated with antihistamine drugs.
• Take drugs that reduce stomach acid levels if chronic laryngitis is caused by increased stomach acid.
• Corticosteroid drugs to treat inflammation of the vocal cords, but usually must be obtained by prescription.
• Speech therapy to restore the voice lost due to chronic laryngitis.

There are also home remedies that can be used to treat laryngitis, such as:

• Gargle with a glass of warm water mixed with 1/2 tablespoon of salt. Salt has antimicrobial properties that can soothe sore throats and reduce inflammation.
• Not much use of your voice when you start to hoarse, especially when the sound is almost gone. Talking or singing causes the muscles in your throat to work harder, which can make your symptoms worse.
• Maintain the health of the vocal cords by drinking lots of water, warm soups such as chicken broth can be consumed.
• Use a humidifier to keep the room moist, which tends to dry out.

What are the lifestyle changes that can be done to overcome laryngitis (inflammation of the vocal cords)?

The following are lifestyle changes that need to be implemented immediately to help you deal with hoarseness due to laryngitis:

• Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption
• Avoid exposure to irritants such as dust, smoke and other chemicals
• Do not use mouthwash for a while.
• Avoid consuming drugs that give dry throat side effects such as decongestants.
• Make changes to your diet if you experience frequent reflux of reflux by avoiding acidic, spicy or too fatty foods
• Strengthen your immune system if you are prone to respiratory infections such as influenza by vaccinating and maintaining personal hygiene.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.