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Causes sore throat. Sore throat and larynx

Angina, laryngitis, pharyngitis are diseases that cause a lot of problems, including not only a sore throat. Temperature and loss of strength can be supplemented by a number of complications, if the issue of treating inflammation of the throat and larynx is not taken seriously. At the same time, it is necessary to start therapy from the first minutes of a feeling of malaise, sore throat and sore throat. If there is still a lot of time before going to the doctor, and the disease progresses, you need to urgently start treatment - rinsing, inhalations, compresses.

Angina, or acute tonsillitis, is characterized by the development of an inflammatory process in the tonsils. The severity of the disease depends on its form:

catarrhal;
lacunar;
follicular.

Often, inflammation of the tonsils occurs in conjunction with the defeat of the palatine arches, uvula. With timely home treatment, angina quickly passes, but in neglected forms it is quite difficult to cure it without drugs.

Pharyngitis

With pharyngitis, the back wall of the throat is inflamed, which makes swallowing much more difficult, and sometimes can even cause a hoarse voice. An advanced disease is characterized by the appearance of "grit" on the back of the throat, resulting in a build-up of disease-causing mucus. Patients with pharyngitis should not delay treatment, it is imperative to start gargling at the first signs of the development of the disease.

Laryngitis

The developing acute inflammation of the larynx requires rest of the vocal cords. With a sore throat, treatment should include mandatory cleaning and rinsing procedures, otherwise the risk of loss of voice and the development of other complications increases.

How to recognize inflammation and its causes?

For all diseases in which the throat is inflamed, the symptoms are very similar:

feeling of tickling;
temperature rise up to 40 ° С;
feeling of depression and deterioration in well-being;
muscle pain and joint aches;
dry cough.

When the uvula in the throat is inflamed or the tonsils are affected, the patient experiences quite severe pain when talking, coughing, swallowing. Appetite deteriorates sharply. Often, along with the inflammatory process, the lymph nodes in the throat, behind the ears, enlarge.

It is quite difficult to independently make the correct diagnosis at home, as well as to treat an inflammation of the throat, but even without a doctor's prescription, it is necessary to rinse with the use of traditional medicine. This is the only way to stop the development of the inflammatory process before a diagnosis is made.

Among the reasons for the development of inflammation, doctors distinguish infectious and non-infectious groups. The non-infectious category includes:

prolonged exposure to cold on the tonsils and throat in general;
overstrain of the vocal cords;
unfavorable environment - dirt, dust, stagnant air, etc.
bad habits;
an abnormal structure of the patient's nasopharynx or injuries that caused changes;
congestion of the upper respiratory tract caused by diseases of the heart and lungs;
allergies;
chemical poisoning;
mechanical damage to the mouth and throat.

Throat infection is caused by the ingestion of pathogenic viruses and bacteria into the body and respiratory tract. Often, inflammation caused by infectious microflora is accompanied by mucous discharge from the nose (runny nose), which irritates an already susceptible throat, exacerbating the patient's condition.

Effective treatment with "grandmother's" recipes

Before treating a sore throat on your own, you need to make sure that your health has not deteriorated to a level where you cannot do without the help of professional doctors. For home therapy, rinsing, compresses, infusions and decoctions are well suited, which will help relieve inflammation and eliminate pain. All recipes are suitable for diseases of the small tongue, larynx, throat, they will also help cure the tonsils and relieve their swelling.

Rinses

There is no better treatment than rinsing your mouth with a saline sore throat.... To prepare it, you need to dilute a small spoonful of salt in a cup of warm water and add 5 drops of iodine. Rinse every 2-3 hours.

It is impossible to swallow the solution because of the iodine contained in it.

Gargling with hydrogen peroxide solution helps a lot, which acts as an antiseptic, destroying any infection in the throat. For the procedure, you need to dilute a large spoonful of 3% peroxide in half a glass of boiled water and rinse 4-5 times a day.

Compositions based on herbal ingredients are no less popular:

For those who want to cure tonsils as soon as possible, you can rinse with a 30% citric acid solution. The procedures are carried out with an interval of one hour for three days.

Means for external use

It is fairly easy to treat a sore throat using the available remedies.

Recipe 1

You need to mix:

15 g of yogurt or sour milk;
10 g of instant coffee;
5 minced garlic cloves;
50 g of honey.

Corn flour is added to the mixture to the consistency of thick sour cream. The resulting product is applied to the outer part of the throat every day at intervals of 4 hours for a week.

Recipe 2

The walnut shell halves are filled with grated garlic. With the filling inside the shell, they are fixed for two hours on the inner sides of the palms at the base of the thumbs using a "breathing" bandage. Repeat daily for five days. This remedy is applicable when the throat is just beginning to become inflamed; in advanced conditions, its effectiveness is significantly reduced.

Means for oral administration

Onions, garlic, lemon are often used to treat throat at home, as these products have always been considered excellent "fighters" with almost all colds and viral diseases.

Inhalation

With the help of inhalation, drugs enter the respiratory tract, destroying the pathogenic microflora, thereby improving the sore throat.

Recipe 1

The onion, grated or passed through a meat grinder, is placed in a narrow glass. A funnel is made of paper, which is put on the container. The patient needs to breathe the vapors of the onion through the opening of the funnel for two minutes.

Recipe 2

A medium head of garlic is chopped, poured into a saucepan with a liter of water and put on fire until it boils, then a small spoonful of soda is added and inhalation is started. The procedure for treating the throat and glands should be carried out for five minutes three times a day.

Any treatment must be adequate. The same goes for home therapy. It is necessary to correctly assess the state of health and, in case of severe symptoms, seek medical help, otherwise complications cannot be avoided, which will definitely not do without the intervention of doctors.

According to medical statistics, almost everyone has experienced a sore throat at least once in their life, because there are many reasons for the occurrence of such a symptom. Pain is the main, but not the only symptom that manifests itself as an inflammation of the throat and larynx. Differential diagnosis of diseases is based on a set of additional signs, on the results of oropharyngoscopy and laboratory studies of a throat smear.

In case of dryness and perspiration, in addition to sprays, you can pick up pharmaceutical solutions for irrigation and rinsing: "Lugol", antiseptics "Chlorhexidine", "Miramistin".

With a weak resistance of the organism to the pathogenic environment, vitamins containing ascorbic acid, as well as immunomodulators: "Bronchomunal", "Immunal" are included in the complex of therapy.

Broad-spectrum antibiotics are prescribed by a doctor for severe intoxication and in order to avoid the development of complications of infectious diseases. They cannot be universal.

Important! The selection of an antibiotic is carried out on an individual basis, but first the doctor must obtain laboratory confirmation of the bacterial environment in the body. For diseases provoked by viruses, antibiotics are ineffective.

ethnoscience

In most cases, with an infectious disease, doctors are allowed to treat the throat with folk remedies. There is no doubt about the effectiveness of many recipes of traditional medicine in eliminating foci of inflammation in the throat. You can cook them at home. However, they are not suitable for monotherapy, the order of administration and dosage should be agreed with your doctor.

When choosing herbs for your throat, you should also take into account that many plants can cause allergic reactions. Broths of oak bark and chamomile for gargling are considered safe, mint tea relieves inflammation well, ginger tea with honey and cranberry juice are suitable to restore mucous membranes.

Rinses

Comprehensive treatment of the throat must necessarily include washing the larynx, oral mucosa and tonsils. For rinsing, decoctions and solutions of active substances are used, which are capable of providing antimicrobial and wound healing effect. Flushing out purulent accumulations will provide good support to the body and reduce the severity of intoxication.

Saline solutions (a mixture of sea and food with iodine), essential oils (eucalyptus, tea tree, juniper), herbal infusions (sage, calendula, coltsfoot) are used for the procedures. Tonsil plaque can be removed with hydrogen peroxide solution.

Possible complications

Any inflammatory processes can give complications if the treatment tactics were wrong. In many cases, patients rely on self-help and come to the doctor with an already advanced form of the disease. This is always associated with severe complications, including:

obstructive airway disease;
rheumatic heart disease;
quinsy;
scarlet fever;
kidney disease;
acute form of glomerulonephritis;
septic arthritis;
sialoadenitis;
lymphadenitis.

Prevention and prognosis

If we are not talking about severe oncological diseases of the throat, then in most cases simple preventive measures help prevent the development of the inflammatory process:

Humidify indoor air. When the microclimate is disturbed, the mucous membranes dry out and cause inflammation even without an infectious agent.
Strengthen the immune system. This will be facilitated by good sleep, daily exercise, and a balanced diet.
To refuse from bad habits. First of all, from smoking, because even being in a place for smokers can cause a sore throat.
Observe the rules of sanitation and hygiene. Hands should be washed as often as possible, use protective masks for the mouth and nose when in contact with a sick person and during periods of epidemics in crowded places.

For any discomfort in the throat, it is important to diagnose in a timely manner so that the treatment is effective.

Inflammation of the larynx is a rather unpleasant condition that causes pain and discomfort and disrupts the normal course of the day. In addition, not only the larynx can become inflamed, but also its other parts, which is also fraught with some inconveniences.

An otolaryngologist can diagnose the disease, as well as determine the factors contributing to its development. You should not try to diagnose yourself and select treatment on your own, because a specialist will cope with this task much better.

This article will discuss why larynx inflammation occurs, what symptoms it manifests, what other parts of the larynx can become inflamed, why this happens and how to properly treat such diseases.

Speaking about inflammation of the larynx, they usually mean, but today we will go a little deeper into the topic and find out that cartilage, the back wall of the larynx, the tongue and even the laryngeal tonsils can become inflamed in the larynx. And all these inflammations manifest themselves in completely different ways and are separate diseases, which we will consider.

Laryngeal cartilage

If inflammation is observed, then we are talking about chondroperichondritis. With this disease, the cartilage and perichondrium of the skeleton of the larynx become inflamed.

This happens for the following reasons:

Complications after laryngeal tonsillitis, acute laryngobronchitis, laryngeal abscess.
Traumatic injury to the larynx, accompanied by damage to the mucous membrane and perichondrium, and then secondary infection.
Lesion of the mucous membrane with syphilis or tuberculosis.

Chronic inflammation of cartilage is caused by streptococci and staphylococci, pneumococci, influenza viruses. Chondroperichondritis are divided into primary and secondary, which in turn are divided into types.

Primary:

received as a result of injuries;
arising against the background of a latent infection;
complication of pneumonia, flu, typhoid fever.

Secondary:

complication of acute or chronic laryngitis;
complication of specific diseases of the larynx.

As practice shows, most often the disease affects a single cartilage.

Clinical manifestations of the disease develop sharply, depend on the localization of the focus of inflammation and are accompanied by the following phenomena:

an increase in body temperature to 39-40 ° C;
chills and general worsening of the condition;
inspiratory dyspnea;
the formation of an abscess;
pain when swallowing and talking, when turning the head;
pain radiating to the ear;
changing the timbre of the voice;
laryngeal stenosis;
redness and spherical protrusion of the mucous membrane;
cartilage necrosis with possible formation of sequesters;
the phenomena of hypoxia;
sepsis.

To diagnose chondroperichondritis, laryngoscopy, X-ray and tomography are used. Differentiate this disease with septic edematous laryngitis, phlegmon of the larynx, syphilis, laryngeal cancer.

Laryngeal tonsils

It occurs with a disease such as laryngeal angina. This type of sore throat is manifested by inflammation of the lymphoid tissue, which is located in the ventricles of the larynx, and lymphatic follicles that cover the entire inner surface of the larynx.

The causes of this disease are:

Complications or consequences of the transferred flu, acute respiratory viral infection, tonsillitis, as a rule, with improperly selected or incomplete treatment.
Bacterial pathogens are staphylococci, streptococci or pneumococci, which are transmitted by airborne droplets.
Hypothermia, frequent use of cold drinks.
Burns and injuries to the larynx.
As a result of other diseases of the ENT organs - purulent sinusitis, otitis media, inflammation of the tonsils.

Laryngeal angina can be mild or severe, and therefore some of its symptoms may differ.

Light form:

The general condition is not disturbed;
Sore throat is moderate;
There is no temperature and voice change;
Discomfort and dry throat;
There may be slight inflammation and swelling on one side of the throat.

Severe form:

Sharp sore throat, especially when swallowing;
Breathing is difficult;
Body temperature rises to 38-39 ° C;
Sore throat on palpation;
Enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes;
Severe edema and hyperemia of the laryngeal mucosa.

To diagnose inflammation, anamnesis is collected, the condition of the skin and neck shape is assessed, lymph nodes are palpated, and laryngoscopy is performed.

Laryngeal uvula

Uvulit or, this is a rapidly developing disease that can develop in a matter of hours. This disease is very dangerous, since the tongue has many functions necessary for the normal functioning of the respiratory system.

It participates in the formation of sounds, warms the air in case of problems with nasal breathing, separates and directs air and food flows, partially prevents foreign bodies from entering the upper respiratory tract.

The following factors contribute to the onset of the disease:

viral or bacterial infections of the mouth, nose, and larynx;
mechanical trauma to the tongue;
the presence of tonsillitis, chronic tonsillitis or paratonsillar abscess;
allergic reactions;
neoplasms of the ENT organs;
long-term use of antihypertensive drugs.

Uvula inflammation is manifested by its sharp swelling, sensation of a lump or foreign body in the throat. Difficulty breathing and swallowing, speech impairment, shortness of breath, gagging, and drooling may occur depending on the degree of edema.

Important! If the inflammation of the uvula is insignificant, then it does not pose a health hazard. If it has reached a significant size, asphyxia may occur.

Diagnose the disease by examining the pharynx and oral cavity. On examination, there is a slight increase in the uvula, the state of the mucous membrane depends on the factors that caused uvulitis.

The back wall of the larynx

When they say that they mean pharyngitis disease. The cause of pharyngitis is viruses and bacteria, and chronic pharyngitis can develop against the background of foci of infection in the body, as well as by inhaling polluted air.

The clinical picture of pharyngitis is as follows:

sore throat, especially when swallowing;
dry and sore throat;
weakness and headache;
foreign body sensation;
slight increase in temperature.

When diagnosing the disease, an examination is carried out to detect inflammation of the pharynx and larynx, a smear will be taken for a bacterial analysis, and it will also be necessary to pass the OAC and OAM.

Larynx

Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx, which is a fairly common infectious disease. In order to choose the right treatment regimen, you need to know what triggered the development of the disease.

The following factors can contribute to the development of laryngitis:

overstrain of the vocal cords;
dry air;
irritation of the mucous membrane with polluted air or tobacco smoke;
allergic action of various pathogens;
existing viral or colds.

The disease is manifested by sore throat, dry hacking cough, in some cases, sputum discharge is possible. A sore throat appears due to redness and swelling of the mucous membrane, later there is a feeling of tingling and dryness in the throat.

To diagnose laryngitis, an examination by an otolaryngologist is sufficient; in especially severe cases, laryngoscopy is indicated.

How to determine the presence of inflammation in the larynx by the main symptoms:

Treatment

The symptoms and treatment of diseases affecting the larynx are closely related. So, with pharyngitis, there is absolutely no need to prescribe antibiotics, and with chondroperiochondritis, ordinary throat rinses will clearly not be enough. When treatment is prescribed - laryngeal inflammation is one of the main symptoms that should be paid attention to.

Consider the schemes used to treat various inflammations of the larynx and pharynx:

Treatment of chondroperiochondritis is carried out with large doses of broad-spectrum antibiotics, antihistamines, as well as hydrocortisone and drugs that relieve swelling. When abscesses or sequestrations form, surgical treatment is indicated.
Treatment of laryngeal sore throat involves adherence to bed rest and vocal rest. Drink plenty of fluids and a balanced diet. In addition, antibacterial drugs are used as directed by a doctor. If necessary, anti-edematous and antipyretic drugs. To alleviate the condition, you can use folk methods that you can cook with your own hands. Usually inhalation or gargling is used. Important! Before using any folk remedies, you must obtain permission from a doctor.
With pharyngitis, which occurs in both an adult and a child, treatment is aimed at relieving discomfort. For this, antiseptic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed, as well as rinsing the throat with decoctions of herbs, soda solution or lubricating the throat with Lugol's solution. The price of these funds is completely insignificant, but they have repeatedly proven their effectiveness.
Instructions for the treatment of uvulitis include the use of glucocorticosteroids, diuretics, antihistamines and decongestants.
For the treatment of laryngitis, pain relievers, antihistamines, antipyretics are used. Antibiotics are prescribed only if the analysis showed the presence of pathogenic bacterial flora. Usually for the treatment of laryngitis, warm compresses with potatoes, gargling with decoctions of herbs or soda solution, the use of honey and lemon are enough.

From the photos and videos that are in this article, we learned about various inflammatory diseases of the larynx, what are the causes of their occurrence, what symptoms they manifest and what methods can be used to diagnose them.

Inflammation of the laryngeal mucosa often occurs due to the development of other respiratory diseases. Therefore, the symptoms of laryngitis in adults at the initial stages of development practically do not differ from the manifestation of ARVI. Patients feel weakness in the body, sore throat, fever, malaise, etc. The disease can be diagnosed as early as 2-3 days after the defeat of the vocal cords and larynx.

Spasmodic cough, hoarseness and shortness of breath are characteristic manifestations of laryngitis that are difficult to confuse with other diseases. Severe swelling of soft tissues is accompanied by a narrowing of the lumen in the larynx, so patients complain of a lack of oxygen, stridor (noisy breathing) and dizziness. Is it possible to independently recognize laryngitis? The symptoms of the disease are quite specific, but it should be diagnosed as early as possible. Running inflammation in the respiratory organs can cause the development of false croup and loss of sonority, i.e. aphonia.

About the disease

Laryngitis is an infectious or allergic inflammation in the soft tissues of the larynx and vocal cords. As a rule, the disease occurs as a complication of ARVI, bronchitis, measles, scarlet fever, tonsillitis, sinusitis, flu and rhinosinusitis. Respiratory disease can be promoted by:

overheating and hypothermia;
tobacco smoking;
overstrain of the vocal apparatus;
trauma to the laryngopharyngeal mucosa;
constant breathing through the mouth;
dusty or gassed air;
allergens (wool, household chemical vapors).

Depending on the characteristics of the course of inflammation in the larynx, the symptoms of laryngitis can vary significantly. In acute laryngitis, signs of airway damage appear suddenly. Sore throat and dry mucous membranes begin to disturb the patients. Sluggish laryngitis practically does not manifest itself in any way, which is why patients are in no hurry to see a pulmonologist or an ENT doctor. But it is the chronic form of laryngitis that is dangerous because it leads to a pathological change in the structure of tissues.

What's going on in the throat?

Inflammation of the larynx is triggered either by irritants or pathogens. Infection occurs, as a rule, against the background of a decrease in the body's defenses. The mucous membranes of the respiratory system become thinner, so they stop producing the required amount of proteolytic substances that destroy opportunistic fungi, viruses and microbes. All this creates optimal conditions for the development of pathogenic flora in the larynx, as a result of which inflammatory reactions occur.

Due to the penetration of viruses and bacteria into soft tissues, the blood vessels in the lesions expand. Due to this, protective cells (leukocytes, granulocytes) rush to the places of localization of the pathogenic flora with the blood flow. The subsequent release of histamine leads to severe tissue edema, as a result of which the disease begins to manifest itself.

Pathological processes in the ENT organs lead to thickening of the mucous membrane and vocal cords. For this reason, the glottis narrows somewhat, as a result of which the voice becomes hoarse. Inflammation of the larynx activates the so-called goblet cells, which begin to produce large amounts of phlegm. Due to irritation of the mucous membrane, patients have a spastic cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, etc.

Signs of laryngitis

What are the first signs of laryngitis in adults? 2-3 hours after the defeat of the larynx, patients feel unwell, a slight increase in temperature and drowsiness. Such manifestations indicate an intoxication of the body, which occurs as a result of the vital activity of bacteria or viruses in the respiratory tract.

Many sufferers think that the overwhelming fatigue is not due to a respiratory illness, so they do not try to stop the symptoms. The next day after waking up, the mouth is dry and there is a slight burning sensation in the throat. Sometimes unpleasant symptoms are accompanied by a feeling of a hard coma at the level of the Adam's apple. When a spastic cough appears, most people already suspect that they have a cold, ARVI, or other respiratory illness.

A low temperature, malaise, dry mucous membranes and a burning sensation in the throat are the very first signs of the development of laryngitis in adults.

Common Symptoms

The symptomatic picture of laryngitis is characterized by a moderate deterioration in well-being. Inflammation in the larynx is indicated by spastic cough, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and shortness of breath. How is laryngitis manifested in the late stages of development? The characteristic symptoms of the disease include:

hoarseness of voice (up to aphonia);
sore throat, aggravated by talking;
a constant burning sensation in the throat;
cough with little sputum production;
shortness of breath (inspiratory dyspnea);
moderate fever and chills.

As a rule, a persistent cough is worse during sleep, when the patient takes a horizontal position. In this case, the patency of the airways decreases somewhat, which leads to even greater irritation of the mucous membrane and the occurrence of paroxysmal cough. Forced exhalation further injures the tissues of the larynx, therefore, when coughing up, blood impurities can be detected in the sputum.

Local manifestations

On examination, the laryngopharyngeal mucosa looks very reddened and swollen. In the area of the vocal cords, soft tissues swell greatly, therefore, patients show symptoms of respiratory failure. Due to inflammation, the blood vessels in the lesions expand greatly, and their walls become thinner. In this regard, crimson dots form on the walls of the larynx, which can bleed.

Diffuse inflammation of the larynx often causes damage to the trachea and bronchi, as a result of which tracheobronchitis and pneumonia develop.

With isolated laryngitis, local manifestations will have significant differences. Areas of redness often include the epiglottis and vocal cords. In the acute course of the disease, the upper trachea can be involved in inflammation. Laryngotracheitis is diagnosed in such patients. The associated disease is rather difficult. Laughter, loud conversation, or inhalation of frosty air can provoke attacks of a suffocating cough.

Types of acute laryngitis

As already mentioned, laryngitis often develops as a complication of influenza, tonsillitis, bronchitis and other respiratory diseases. In this regard, the clinical manifestations of the disease will have some differences. Depending on the characteristics of the course of inflammatory reactions and the causes of damage to the larynx, the following forms of acute laryngitis are distinguished:

Any of the above forms of acute laryngitis can provoke edema in the lining space of the larynx and, as a result, the development of false croup.

The most dangerous complication of laryngitis is a false croup, in which stenosing phenomena occur in the airways. A strong narrowing of the lumen in the laryngopharynx is fraught with the development of respiratory failure, asthma attacks, asphyxia and death.

Types of chronic laryngitis

Chronic (sluggish) laryngitis is a consequence of improper and delayed treatment of an acute form of respiratory disease. Sluggish inflammatory reactions in tissues occur due to non-observance of voice rest, smoking, work in hazardous enterprises, irrational intake of medicines, etc. In otolaryngology, it is customary to distinguish two main forms of chronic laryngitis, namely:

atrophic - characterized by a strong thinning of the walls of the larynx, as a result of which it becomes crusted; patients suffer from constant dry throat, paroxysmal dry cough and a virtual absence of voice (aphonia);
hyperplastic - accompanied by a strong thickening of the vocal cords and the mucous membrane of the larynx, as a result of which the voice becomes very coarse, and the airway patency decreases; patients develop persistent respiratory dysfunctions - shallow breathing, shortness of breath, involvement of the intercostal muscles in the breathing process (intercostal retractions).

Both forms of the disease pose a particular threat to the vocal cords. If the inflammation is not stopped in time, even after undergoing a course of treatment, the elasticity of the ligaments is not always restored. Subsequently, this can cause dysphonia or persistent loss of sonority of the voice.

Inflammation of the larynx (laryngitis) develops as a result of exposure to a bacterial, viral, fungal infection. The association of several pathogens is possible. It occurs in both adults and children. In childhood, the disease has special symptoms, prone to rapid progression, the development of complications and life-threatening conditions. It proceeds in the form of an acute process that lasts several days, and chronic (long-term, progressive, with exacerbations and remissions). Effective treatment of laryngitis is impossible without timely diagnosis, selection of appropriate therapeutic agents, medical supervision and control.

The main causes of laryngitis are divided into infectious and non-infectious. Any pathogens that can damage the airways can be the cause of the disease. The mucous membrane of the larynx is most often inflamed with colds, flu, bacterial (staphylococcal, streptococcal) infections.

It can develop with contagious (infectious) diseases:

measles;
scarlet fever;
whooping cough;
diphtheria.

The symptoms inherent in laryngitis require immediate medical attention, who can determine the degree of threat to health and life, the severity, type of disease.

Non-infectious reasons include:

periodic throwing of acidic stomach contents into the larynx with pathology of the gastrointestinal tract;
chronic diseases of the nose, paranasal sinuses, mouth, tonsils;
allergic processes;
trauma, foreign bodies;
age-related atrophy of the muscles of the larynx.

In addition to the direct causes of the development of pathology, there are a number of factors, the prolonged exposure of which contributes to the emergence and progression of an already existing disease.

Factors provoking the development of laryngitis:

inhalation of cold air through the mouth with impaired nasal breathing;
the presence of dust, tar, irritating particles, gases in the inhaled air;
eating cold food (ice cream, chilled drinks);
constant tension of the vocal cords;
smoking.

For teachers, lecturers, announcers, singers, whose work activity is related to the voice, laryngitis can become an occupational disease.

Laryngitis course options

Inflammation of the laryngeal mucosa, depending on the cause, conditions of occurrence, state of the body, age of the patient, differs in course, clinical manifestations and prognosis.

Types of laryngitis:

spicy
chronic.

It develops sharply, progresses rapidly, lasts for 10-14 days. Mostly it is not an isolated process, it is associated with inflammatory changes in the nasal passages, pharynx, trachea. In case of untimely diagnosis, the process spreads to the mucous membrane of the bronchi and lungs.

Chronic laryngitis is sick for more than 2-3 weeks. Under the influence of provoking factors, the disease periodically aggravates, gradually progresses: the mucous membrane becomes thinner or grows, the symptoms are aggravated up to the loss of voice. It can be the outcome of an acute illness or a primary chronic process. As a rule, this variant of the course is a manifestation or complication of severe non-infectious pathology (cardiovascular system, respiratory system).

Basic diagnostic approaches

Diagnostics is based on the determination of complaints, clarification of the characteristics of the onset and development of the disease, direct examination of the patient. In the future, the doctor prescribes the necessary instrumental, laboratory tests.

The main symptoms of laryngitis:

hoarseness of the voice;
perspiration, burning sensation in the throat and larynx;
discomfort in the neck, foreign body sensation;
dry, after a few days - with a small amount of sputum.

Body temperature is most often normal. Perhaps its increase is no more than 37.5–38 ° C. The higher the temperature, the more likely it is that laryngitis is not an independent disease, but one of the manifestations of a dangerous infectious process.

Inflammation of the laryngeal mucosa is accompanied by damage to the vocal folds. The resulting voice changes are the hallmark of this pathology. This symptom is absent in inflammatory processes of nearby organs: pharyngitis (pharynx), tracheitis (trachea), tonsillitis (palatine tonsils).

The epiglottis (the cartilage that covers the larynx, protecting it from the ingress of fluid, food when swallowing) and the surrounding tissues are also inflamed. Symptoms, possible complications, as well as the prognosis of the disease depend on the prevalence of the process.

A medical examination reveals an inflammation of the throat, swelling of the mucous membrane. It is very important to identify any plaque, protrusion, tissue overgrowth.

If you suspect a disease in a child, you need to contact a pediatrician, in an adult - to a therapist. In most cases, it is necessary to consult an otolaryngologist (ENT doctor). It is he who can identify local signs of inflammation of the pharynx and larynx, determine the prevalence, severity of the process, the presence of complications. Instrumental research - laryngoscopy - allows the doctor to see the state of the mucous membrane, as well as control the therapeutic effect. If you suspect an infectious disease (high fever, a sharp violation of the condition, rash), it is important to contact an infectious disease specialist as soon as possible.

With laryngitis, the following complications are possible:

in acute course - acute laryngeal edema (false croup);
spread of the process, chronic bronchitis, tonsillitis;
the development of oncological (benign, malignant) lesions;
narrowing of the larynx,.

If inflammation of the larynx is complicated by mucosal edema, it can lead to suffocation. Doctors sometimes identify a separate form for such a complicated course of the course - edematous laryngitis. In its acute course, without urgent medical care, the patient faces death.

Chronic edematous laryngitis is of a non-infectious nature. Develops slowly, gradually. Due to the edema of the epiglottis, the posterior wall of the larynx, difficulty, discomfort during swallowing, and the sensation of a foreign body gradually increase. Far-reaching cases are accompanied by choking on food.

Features of laryngitis in children

In childhood, an acute variant of pathology is more common.

The most significant reasons:

viral infection (adenovirus, influenza, parainfluenza);
viral-bacterial association;
childhood infections (whooping cough, scarlet fever, measles);
allergy.

In most cases, viruses are the cause. The laryngeal mucosa may also become inflamed in childhood infections (scarlet fever, measles, whooping cough) and diphtheria. In this case, the symptoms of laryngitis are part of the clinical picture of the underlying disease. Without appropriate therapy, the child's condition can quickly and dramatically deteriorate.

Features of the clinical course of the disease:

more often there is a combination of inflammation of the pharynx and larynx;
, occurs during expiration;
a hiss is heard on inhalation;
shortness of breath;
wheezing in the upper chest;
body temperature can rise to 39 ° C;
poor sleep, irritability, nervous agitation;
cyanotic discoloration of the skin around the mouth is likely if breathing worsens.

Age features of the larynx in children (relative narrowness of the lumen, looseness of connective tissue under the vocal folds) cause the possibility of acute edema of the mucous membrane.

Most often, the process develops at night, with a horizontal position of the body and sharply violates the condition of the child. There is a feeling of shortness of breath, shortness of breath, even suffocation. When examining, as soon as possible, it is important to examine the child's throat, identify inflammation of the posterior pharyngeal wall, determine the size and shape of the tonsils, the presence of plaque, and the width of the larynx lumen. This will help to prescribe effective therapy in a timely manner and prevent the consequences.

Principles of treatment for various variants of the disease

Treatment includes general measures and the use of drugs, the choice of which depends on the cause, type, course of laryngitis.

It is important for the patient to observe the regime of complete silence. Violation of this recommendation not only leads to an increase in the duration of the disease, but also contributes to its chronicity. If there is no other way out, then you can speak in a low voice for a short time.

It must be remembered that whispering strongly strains the vocal apparatus and vocal folds. This can significantly worsen the condition of the mucous membrane, affect the prognosis of the disease.

To fight the infection that caused the disease, antiviral, antibacterial agents are used. The time of admission, dosage of funds, the timing of admission are determined by the doctor. Given the tendency to swelling, it is possible to prescribe vasoconstrictor, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory drugs.

Local therapy:

dry heat;
compresses;
inhalation.

Warming procedures are effective in the first 3-4 days of illness. Inhalations with medicinal herbs are carried out 2-3 times a day. Doctors in medical institutions also produce infusion and irrigation of the laryngeal mucosa with drug solutions.

With a complicated course, the development of edema and stenosis of the larynx, in the most life-threatening cases of the patient, they resort to surgical intervention - dissection of the anterior wall of the trachea.

Timely diagnosis, effective treatment of laryngitis allows you to prevent the transition of an acute process to a chronic one, to prevent structural restructuring of the speech apparatus and to avoid complications that pose a direct threat to the patient's life.

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