Laryngitis Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Laryngitis treatment | laryngitis treatment Hyderabad | Dr Neetu Modgil

The inflammation of your voice box is known as laryngitis. It can be due to an infection, overuse or irritation. The inflammation of the voice box lasting for less than three weeks is acute; if it is lasting for more than three weeks then it is chronic. Environmental factors, bacterial and viral infections cause inflammation of the voice box (laryngitis).

What Causes Laryngitis?

Laryngitis causes: Overuse of vocal cords is one of the reasons for acute laryngitis. It is a temporary condition. The other reasons include infections – bacterial and viral infections. This type of laryngitis goes away when the underlying cause is known and addressed. This condition can be due to excessive yelling or talking or by straining vocal cords; bacterial infections, viral infections and drinking excessive alcohol.

Chronic laryngitis

Long-term exposure to harmful chemical and irritants and also environmental pollutants (allergens) causes chronic laryngitis. This is a severe form of laryngitis, persists for a long, causing more severe and long-lasting effects. Recurrent bacterial and viral infections – especially sinus infections, acid reflux (GERD), excessive smoking and being around smokers, frequent exposure to harmful chemicals, overuse of voice box – excessive lecturing, talking, yelling, making loud sounds; frequent usage of asthma inhalers cause chronic laryngitis.

Throat Cancer, normal ageing-related changes in vocal cords, changes in vocal cord shape, persistent sore throats and persistent hoarseness can also cause chronic laryngitis.

Signs and Symptoms of Laryngitis

Laryngitis signs and symptoms include the following:

• Throat irritation
• Dryness of throat
• Changes in voice
• Hoarse voice
• Weakened voice
• Loss of voice
• Constant tickling or minor throat irritation
• Dry cough

To manage the mild signs and symptoms – such as the above ones – drink water, take intermittent voice breaks and avoid drinking caffeinated beverages – rather prefer drinking non-caffeinated fluids. This will help in lubricating the throat and managing mild laryngitis.

The following signs and symptoms often indicate some serious underlying condition:

• Swallowing difficulty
• Severe throat pain accompanied by fever that persists
• Fever that doesn’t go away with treatment
• Coughing up blood

Seek an immediate appointment with an ENT surgeon if the above symptoms last longer than a week or become worse day by day.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Laryngitis

ENT doctors often perform a visual examination by using a special mirror in order to view your vocal cords. They may also perform laryngoscopy using a thin, flexible tube with a microscopic camera, to magnify the voice box for easy viewing.

Laryngitis Treatment

Symptoms usually disappear without treatment within seven days if a virus has caused acute laryngitis. ENT doctors treat bacterial laryngitis with antibiotics. They prescribe medication to reduce inflammation in both acute and chronic laryngitis. Corticosteroids is another kind of treatment that helps in relieving the symptoms of acute viral laryngitis.

Chronic laryngitis treatment: To treat chronic laryngitis, doctors, first of all, address the underlying cause of this condition.

ENT doctors treat vocal cord paralysis or dysphonia through some minor procedures, recommending rest and by providing speech therapy by a speech pathologist. Another option is phono surgery, which helps in changing the shape and position of the vocal cord to reduce voice induced tension.

Laryngitis Prevention

The best possible way to keep your voice box and vocal cords healthy is by keeping them moist and free from irritants. To avoid any irritants:

• Stop smoking and avoid being around the people who smokes
• Limit your consumption of caffeine and alcohol
• Avoid toxic chemicals
• Wash your hands regularly to avoid any upper respiratory tract infection

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