Recognizes chronic laryngitis, when the vocal cords become inflamed and swollen

It turns out that the vocal cords can also get inflamed, you know. This inflammatory condition of the vocal cords is called laryngitis. Usually, laryngitis will heal quickly and get better on its own within one week. However, sometimes there are those who experience it for more than two weeks. Yes, when that happens, you have chronic laryngitis.

Chronic laryngitis, when the vocal cords become inflamed for a long time

Chronic laryngitis occurs when inflammation of the vocal cords occurs more than three weeks after the initial symptoms were discovered. In general, the most easily detectable symptom of laryngitis is swelling in the area of ​​the vocal cords. In addition, voice changes such as voice turning hoarse can also be an early sign.

Actually, this condition is divided into two parts, namely chronic and acute inflammation of the vocal cords. Even though they sound similar, these two conditions are actually much different, you know. What are the differences?

The difference between chronic and acute inflammation of the larynx

Apart from the longer duration of about three weeks, the process of chronic and acute laryngitis has differences:

• The symptoms of inflammation in chronic laryngitis are more serious than in acute laryngitis.
• Acute laryngitis usually occurs when the larynx is infected by bacteria or viruses, whereas in chronic laryngitis it is usually not caused by infection but persistent inflammation of the larynx.
• 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. Meanwhile, chronic laryngitis is treated by minimizing the triggers of this inflammation and speech therapy can also be done to reduce the impact of speaking hoarsely.

In addition, chronic laryngitis can also be a symptom of a more serious health condition, such as an autoimmune disease that causes persistent inflammation. However, when chronic laryngitis improved, there were no other significant disorders outside the period of experiencing laryngitis.

Symptoms of chronic laryngitis

Here are some symptoms that can persist if you have chronic laryngitis:

• Persistent cough
• There is phlegm in the throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• Fever
• There is a lump in the throat
• Sore throat
• Sound is lost

These symptoms can appear alternately, but your voice can be hoarse as long as the disease is still attacking. Inflammation can also be a sign if there are other diseases such as flu or inflammation of the tonsils causing symptoms such as swollen glands around the throat, fatigue, headaches and cold symptoms.

Chronic inflammation of the larynx that is not treated properly can also cause serious damage to the vocal cords. As a result of inflammation, polyps can appear on the surface of the vocal cords. This will make the sore throat feel worse, but will not have any serious health effects.

Causes of chronic laryngitis

Some things that can cause long-lasting inflammation of the larynx include:

• Have acid reflux
• Too much sound like the singing profession
• Too often speaking in a high tone or shouting
• Experiencing recurrent acute inflammation of the larynx
• Have repeated respiratory infections
• Smoke
• Use of steroid inhaler drugs
• Excess alcohol consumption
• Chronic sinusitis
• Exposure to irritants such as chemicals and dust
• Have a history of chronic inflammatory causes such as tuberculosis

Treatment of chronic laryngitis

Detecting chronic inflammation of the larynx is a very important first step. For this reason, doctors usually do a physical examination and know all your medical history that might trigger inflammation of the larynx.

Chronic laryngitis conditions must also be distinguished from laryngeal cancer. Therefore, further tests such as biopsy, use of X-rays may need to be done to eliminate the possibility of cancer.

Inflammation of the larynx in general can be treated by doing the following:

• Avoid speaking or singing in unnecessarily high notes
• Get enough drinking water
• Avoid using decongestants
• Limit consumption of caffeine and alcohol
• Avoid smoking
• Avoid irritants such as dust, smoke and other chemicals
• Avoid using mouthwash for a while
• 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.