Laryngitis

Laryngitis
Laryngitis
Specialty	Pulmonology, otorhinolaryngology

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 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 cords^[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 a viral infection, like the common cold. 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). Use a humidifier or a vaporizer to create moisture.

In most cases, laryngitis is viral:

The patient may be instructed to drink lots of fluids, such as when one has a cold.

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]

Treatment Approach:

In most cases, you can treat laryngitis yourself by resting your voice. Antibiotics are almost never needed because most cases of laryngitis are caused by a virus (not bacteria).
Read more: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/laryngitis-000099.htm

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.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ 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.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ 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.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ 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.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ 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.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ Laryngitis - Treatment NHS Choices

http://www.medicinenet.com/laryngitis/page5.htm http://www.emedicinehealth.com/laryngitis/page5_em.htm

External links

[1] 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.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[2] 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.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[3] 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.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[4] 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.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[5] 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.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[6] Laryngitis - Treatment NHS Choices

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