Acute laryngitis, a disease that can silence you.

Acute laryngitis is a short-lived inflammation of the larynx, due to vocal abuse, local irritation, or infection. Generally, the first manifestation of the disease is the change of voice, from simple Dysphonia is by far the most common symptom of acute laryngitis. Normally, vocal cords are supple structures that approach and vibrate so as to form sounds as the air passes between them. In case of laryngitis, vocal cords become inflamed or irritated, distorting the sound that is normally formed. This dissonance occurs, which in more severe cases can go to aphonium (complete lack of sound). Risk factors The first symptoms are followed by cough, foreign body sensation in the throat, pain or dry throat.

Especially in the case of acute infectious laryngitis, the symptoms may also be associated with fever, headache, or muscle aches. Also, people who use excessive voice constantly (teachers, singers) are prone to laryngeal inflammation. Other pathologies that can be considered as risk factors include nasal breathing disorders that predispose to breathing in the mouth, allergies and gastro-oesophageal reflux syndrome. In terms of causes, the most common are infections, voice abusive (voice overload) and / or gastro-esophageal reflux. Infectious acute laryngitis is usually viral and occurs during an episode of upper airway infection.

This type of laryngitis can be complicated by bacterial superinfection, Ioan Bulescu, ENT specialist. Voice abuse is excessive talk, screaming or singing at a very high volume for a person without vocal training or in fact any prolonged episode that causes increased pressure on the glot and subglotic level, resulting in a vocal cord trauma. These phenomena are aggravated if they happen in a cold environment or are associated with smoking. A non-infectious cause of laryngitis, both acute and chronic, can be gastro-esophageal reflux, which causes an irritation of the vocal cords, especially in their posterior. Other more rare causes of acute laryngitis are allergic reactions and inhalation of toxic fumes.

How to diagnose and how long laryngitis is cured Diagnosis of acute laryngitis is usually clinically based on specific symptomatology. Often, the anamnesis along with the symptoms and the ORL clinical examination are enough for a diagnosis of acute laryngitis. In some cases, and especially if the symptoms persist, a laryngeal endoscopic examination is required to highlight other possible changes at the laryngeal level. Some acute laryngitis may lead to chronic laryngitis (chronic inflammation of the vocal cords), especially in patients with risk factors, Acute laryngitis often has a natural evolution to healing in 7-10 days. During this period a number of non-drug measures are indicated to facilitate healing.

Patients should, in principle, inspire a wetter air (using a humidifier in the room) and hydrate very well. Dehydration substances such as alcohol and coffee should also be avoided. This should be completely avoided, since whispering causes greater vocal effort than the talk itself, maintaining inflammation. Antibiotic treatment is often unnecessary because most acutely infectious laryngitis is viral, but in some situations the doctor may prescribe an antibiotic cure when it comes to a bacterial infection. Other drug treatments that can be used in rarer situations are cortisone derivatives, which have a role in reducing vocal cord inflammation.

In any case, The patient should reduce speech use as much as possible using voice, avoid singing, screaming, or speaking in public, .