Laryngitis
Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx. It causes hoarse voice or the complete loss of the voice because of irritation to the vocal folds (vocal cords). Dysphonia is the medical term for a vocal disorder, of which laryngitis is one cause.
Laryngitis is categorized as acute if it lasts less than a few days. Otherwise it is categorized as chronic, and may last over 3 weeks. The chronic form of disease occurs mostly in middle age and is much more common in men than women.
Causes
- acid reflux disease
- allergies
- bacterial or fungal infection
- excessive coughing, smoking, or alcohol consumption
- inflammation due to overuse of the vocal chords[1][2][3][4][5]
- use of inhaled corticosteroids for asthma treatment
- viral infection
Symptoms
- Hoarseness or no voice at all
- Dry, sore burning, throat
- Coughing, which can be a symptom of, or a factor in causing laryngitis
- Difficulty swallowing
- Sensation of swelling in the area of the larynx
- Cold or flu-like symptoms (which, like a cough, may also be the causal factor for laryngitis)
- Swollen lymph nodes in the throat, chest, or face
- Fever
- Coughing out blood
- Difficulty breathing (mostly in children)
- Difficulty eating
- Increased production of saliva in mouth
Treatment
In most instances, the symptoms accompanying laryngitis are more directly linked to the causative factor, such as infection. In cases caused by overuse of the voice, symptoms other than vocal impairment may be absent. Laryngitis, hoarseness or breathiness that lasts for more than two weeks may signal a voice disorder and should be followed up with a voice pathologist. This is typically a vocology certified SLP (speech language pathologist) or a laryngologist (voice specialized ENT).
If laryngitis is due to gastroesophageal reflux:
- The patient may be instructed to take a medication such as Zantac or Prilosec for a period of 4-6 weeks.
If laryngitis is due to a bacterial or fungal infection:
- The patient may be prescribed a course of antibiotics or anti-fungal medication.
If persistent hoarseness or loss of voice (dysphonia) is a result of vocal cord nodules:
- Physicians may recommend a course of treatment that may include a surgical procedure and/or speech therapy.
- Reduction of high-impact stress to the vocal cords caused by loud, frequent, and high-pitched voicing is recommended.[6]
References
- ^ Titze IR, Lemke J, Montequin D (1997). "Populations in the U.S. workforce who rely on voice as a primary tool of trade: a preliminary report". J Voice 11 (3): 254–9. doi:10.1016/S0892-1997(97)80002-1. PMID 9297668. http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0892-1997(97)80002-1.
- ^ Popolo PS, Svec JG, Titze IR (2005). "Adaptation of a Pocket PC for use as a wearable voice dosimeter". J. Speech Lang. Hear. Res. 48 (4): 780–91. doi:10.1044/1092-4388(2005/054). PMID 16378473.
- ^ Titze IR, Hunter EJ, Svec JG (2007). "Voicing and silence periods in daily and weekly vocalizations of teachers". J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 121 (1): 469–78. doi:10.1121/1.2390676. PMID 17297801. http://link.aip.org/link/?jas/121/469&agg=MEDLINE_JAS.
- ^ Nix J, Svec JG, Laukkanen AM, Titze IR (2007). "Protocol challenges for on-the-job voice dosimetry of teachers in the United States and Finland". J Voice 21 (4): 385–96. doi:10.1016/j.jvoice.2006.03.005. PMID 16678386.
- ^ Carroll T, Nix J, Hunter E, Emerich K, Titze I, Abaza M (2006). "Objective measurement of vocal fatigue in classical singers: a vocal dosimetry pilot study". Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 135 (4): 595–602. doi:10.1016/j.otohns.2006.06.1268. PMID 17011424.
- ^ Laryngitis - Treatment NHS Choices
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