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Laryngitis
(from ancient Greek λάρυγξ – “larynx”) – inflammation of the mucous membranes of the larynx, usually associated with a cold or infectious diseases such as measles, scarlet fever, whooping cough. The development of the disease is facilitated by overheating, hypothermia, breathing through the mouth, dusty air, and overstrain of the larynx.
Laryngotracheitis
– a variant of the development of the disease, characterized by inflammation of the larynx and the initial parts of the trachea.
RџSЂRё larynx and laryngotrachea There is hoarseness up to complete loss of voice, dryness, sore throat, dry barking cough. There may be difficulty breathing, a bluish tint to the skin, and pain when swallowing.
Treatment of laryngitis and laryngotracheitis
includes restriction of the voice mode (the patient must remain silent, it is impossible to speak in a whisper, since when whispering, the ligaments are subjected to the same load as during normal conversation); alkaline oil inhalations; diet excluding spicy, salty, hot or very cold foods, antihistamines.
Both laryngitis and laryngotracheitis can be acute or chronic. The latter occurs when the causes that led to acute laryngitis (laryngotracheitis) are not eliminated.
Particularly dangerous acute stenosing laryngotracheitis (false croup) in children, since due to the smaller size of the larynx, there is a danger of severe narrowing of the glottis and the threat of respiratory arrest, which without timely medical care can lead to the death of the child.
Acute laryngitis
Causes of acute laryngitis
The cause of the disease is damage to the mucous membrane of the larynx and upper trachea, which leads to the development of severe inflammation, leading to the development of a typical clinical picture of the disease.
The causes of damage to the mucous membrane are varied, ranging from excessive hypothermia or vocal strain (for example, in singers, teachers), and ending with colonization of the mucous membrane by pathogenic microorganisms during common acute infections (influenza, measles, etc.). The inflammatory process can involve either the entire mucous membrane of the larynx – a diffuse form of laryngitis, or the mucous membrane of the epiglottis, vocal folds, and the walls of the subglottic cavity.
Laryngitis symptoms
With developed acute laryngitis, the mucous membrane looks sharply reddened; swelling is more pronounced in the area of the folds of the vestibule. Blood can leak out of inflamed, and therefore dilated, vessels, forming purplish-red dots on the mucous membrane (which is more common with complicated influenza).
In the isolated form of acute laryngitis, sharp redness and infiltration of the mucous membrane can be expressed only in the epiglottis.
Often, an acute inflammatory process affects the mucous membrane of not only the larynx, but also the trachea (laryngotracheitis). In this case, a severe cough is often observed, usually with the release of sputum produced by the mucous membrane of the larynx and trachea.
Clinical picture of acute laryngitis
The clinical picture of acute laryngitis is characterized by
- Deterioration of the general condition, often the temperature rises.
- In the blood, laboratory tests determine indicators of the inflammatory process (the number of leukocytes increases, the ESR accelerates).
- If the process is predominantly localized in the area of the epiglottis or the posterior wall of the larynx, pain may be observed when swallowing.
- The voice becomes hoarse.
- Difficulty breathing can be caused by a narrowing of the glottis due to its spasm, swelling (or even the development of an abscess).
- With acute laryngitis, patients complain of a feeling of dryness, soreness, and scratching in the throat.
- The cough is initially dry and later accompanied by coughing up sputum.
- the voice becomes hoarse, rough or completely silent.
- Sometimes there is pain when swallowing, headache and a slight (up to 37,4°) increase in temperature.
- The duration of the illness, subject to the regimen prescribed by the doctor, usually does not exceed 7-10 days.
Treatment of acute laryngitis
Treatment of acute laryngitis consists of eliminating the causes that caused the disease. For complete rest of the larynx, the patient is not recommended to talk for 5-7 days. It is also necessary to exclude hot seasonings and spices from food.
Smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages is prohibited. Among the therapeutic procedures, warm drinks, gargling, warm inhalations recommended by a doctor, and heat on the neck (bandage or warm compress) are useful. The doctor may also prescribe medication.
False croup
Children under 6-8 years of age may develop a special form of acute laryngitis, namely the occurrence of false croup.
Its manifestations are similar to those of laryngeal diphtheria – true croup. This complication is dangerous because it can lead to severe difficulty breathing as a result of narrowing of the lumen of the larynx due to the inflammatory process (edema), which, in turn, is often combined with spasm of the glottis. False croup in acute laryngitis is most often observed in children with exudative diathesis.
With false croup, an attack of the disease usually occurs unexpectedly, at night during sleep: the child suddenly wakes up covered in sweat, is restless, his breathing becomes more and more labored and noisy, his lips turn blue, and he has a “barking” cough. After some time (20-30 minutes), the child calms down and falls asleep. Body temperature during an attack remains normal or rises slightly. Attacks of the disease may recur that night or the next. If signs of false croup appear, you should immediately call an ambulance or take the child to the nearest hospital.
Chronic laryngitis
Causes of chronic laryngitis
This disease develops as a consequence of repeated acute laryngitis or prolonged inflammatory processes in the nose and its paranasal sinuses and pharynx. Smoking, alcohol abuse, and vocal strain contribute to the disease. Chronic laryngitis often develops among teachers as an occupational disease.
Symptoms of chronic laryngitis
With chronic laryngitis, patients complain of hoarseness, rapid voice fatigue, a feeling of constriction, a sore throat, which causes constant coughing. With an exacerbation of the inflammatory process, all these phenomena intensify.
Treatment of chronic laryngitis
Patients with chronic laryngitis must be examined by an otolaryngologist. Depending on the nature of the inflammatory process, the doctor prescribes appropriate treatment: inhalations, lubricating the larynx, various physiotherapeutic procedures, and, if necessary, medication and even surgical treatment.
To prevent the development of chronic laryngitis, first of all, timely treatment of acute laryngitis, as well as other catarrhs of the upper respiratory tract (diseases of the nose, paranasal sinuses, etc.), which can be complicated by inflammation of the larynx, is necessary. You should also adhere to a rational voice mode.
In the prevention of both acute and chronic laryngitis, regular exercise and sports are important, in a word, hardening the body from as early an age as possible.