Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx.
It causes hoarse voice or temporary complete loss of the voice because of irritation to
the vocal folds.
Dysphonia is the medical term for a vocal disorder, of which laryngitis is one cause.
Laryngitis is categorised as acute if it lasts less than three weeks.
Otherwise it is categorised as chronic, and may last over three weeks.
The chronic form occurs mostly in middle age and is much more common in men than women.
Causes Laryngitis can be infectious as well as noninfectious
in origin.
Noninfectious causes Acid reflux disease, resulting in laryngitis
gastrica Allergies
Excessive coughing, smoking, or alcohol consumption.
Inflammation due to overuse of the vocal cords Prolonged use of inhaled corticosteroids for
asthma treatment Thermal or chemical burns
Laryngeal trauma, including iatrogenic one caused by endotracheal intubation
Infectious causes Viral laryngitis can be caused by rhinovirus,
influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, coxsackievirus, coronavirus, and RSV.
Bacterial laryngitis can be caused by group A streptococcus, streptococcus pneumoniae,
C. diphtheriae, M. catarrhalis, haemophilus influenzae, bordetella pertussis, bacillus
anthracis, and M. tuberculosis.
Bacterial infections usually follow pre-existing viral infection.
Fungal laryngitis can be caused by Histoplasma, Blastomyces, Candida, and rarely by Cryptococcus
and Coccidioides.
Laryngitis can occasionally lead to pneumonia, either viral pneumonia or bacterial pneumonia.
Symptoms Dysphonia or aphonia
Dry, sore, burning throat Coughing, both a causing factor and symptom
of laryngitis Dysphagia
Sensation of swelling in the area of the larynx Cold or flu-like symptoms
Swollen lymph nodes in the throat, chest, or face
Fever Hemoptysis
Dyspnea, predominantly in children Increased production of saliva.
Signs In early stages, erythema and edema of epiglottis,
aryepiglottic folds, arytenoids and ventricular folds occurs.
In late stages, the vocal folds and subglottic structures are also involved.
There are sticky secretions between cords and in interarytenoid region.
Sometimes, submucous hemorrhage is seen, especially in case of vocal abuse.
Acute membranous laryngitis, a condition resembling acute membranous tonsillitis, is caused by
pyogenic nonspecific organisms.
It has to be differentiated from laryngeal diphtheria.
In some cases tightening of the chest may be present due to COPD or other relevant breathing
disorder.
Pathology Acute laryngitis
Chronic laryngitis Granulomatous laryngitis
Pseudomyxomatous laryngitis
Treatment General measures: Voice rest is important.
Steam inhalations with tincture of benzoin or oil of pine or eucalyptus help loosen secretions.
Cough sedatives are given to reduce cough.
For a severely inflamed larynx, a humidifier or vaporizer is used to moisten the air inhaled
by person.
If laryngitis gastroesophageal reflux, an H2-inhibitor or proton-pump inhibitor is used
to reduce gastric acid secretions.
If laryngitis is caused by thermal or chemical burns, steroids are used.
In viral laryngitis, drinking sufficient fluids is helpful.
If laryngitis is due to a bacterial or fungal infection, appropriate antibiotic or antifungal
therapy is given.
If persistent hoarseness or loss of voice is a result of vocal cord nodules, physicians
may recommend a course of treatment that may include a surgical procedure and/or speech
therapy.
Prognosis Most cases of laryngitis are viral and resolve
without treatment with sufficient voice rest.
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 or a laryngologist.
References
General http:www.medicinenet.compage5.htm http:www.emedicinehealth.compage5_em.htm
External links Mayo Clinic
VoiceInfo.org Singing Voice
National Center for Voice and Speech's official website
The Voice Academy's official website The Voice Foundation's official website
University of Maryland Medical Center