Laryngitis: treatment in adults, symptoms, possible complications
The content of the article:
- Causes of occurrence
-
Laryngitis symptoms
Laryngitis cough
-
How to treat laryngitis
- Drug treatment
- Rinses
- Inhalation
- Prevention
- Video
Laryngitis is a fairly common condition. Almost every person at least once in their life faced hoarseness or loss of voice. For the treatment of laryngitis in adults, both medicines and traditional medicine methods are used.
The disease is characterized by dryness and burning in the larynx, voice changes and cough.
What is laryngitis? This is a disease in which the inflammatory process affects the lining of the larynx. The disease is characterized by a change in voice up to its complete loss. Laryngitis is often accompanied by coughing and breathing problems. The most serious complication is laryngeal stenosis, which often occurs in childhood.
ICD-10 code - J04. If it is necessary to identify the causative agent of the disease, use an additional code (B95-B98).
There are two forms of the disease: acute and chronic. The latter, in turn, is subdivided into catarrhal, hypertrophic and atrophic.
Causes of occurrence
- infection: the larynx mucosa can become inflamed as a result of the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms, including: influenza viruses, Coxsackie viruses, adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, coronaviruses; bacteria streptococcus, staphylococcus, klebsiella; mushrooms. They can enter the body by airborne droplets or by contact, or move from foci of chronic infection;
- allergies: the provoking factors for the development of the disease can be pollen, dust, wool, various chemicals or food. Swelling of the laryngeal mucosa occurs as a result of an allergic reaction;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: the cause of the development of a chronic form of laryngitis may be gastroesophagitis (gastroesophageal reflux disease, in which, as a result of weakness of the esophageal sphincters, stomach contents enter the larynx).
One of the possible causative agents of the disease is adenovirus
Predisposing factors include: smoking, alcohol abuse, prolonged vocal stress, working in dry and dusty rooms, eating too cold food or drinks.
Is laryngitis contagious? The disease is contagious if it is caused by viruses or bacteria that can be transmitted by airborne droplets or by contact. If the disease is caused by other reasons, it is not dangerous to others.
Laryngitis symptoms
Signs of the acute form of the disease include:
- dryness, burning, and foreign body sensation in the larynx;
- change in voice: its sonority is lost, it becomes hoarse and hoarse, the patient can speak only in a half-whisper, and in some cases aphonia is observed (complete loss of voice);
- cough: heavy, painful, with viscous expectoration.
The disease is characterized by a change in voice
Perhaps an increase in body temperature, weakness, lethargy, chills. How long does the temperature last? With proper and timely treatment, it returns to normal in 2-3 days.
In patients with chronic laryngitis, the following symptoms are observed:
- change in voice throughout the day: it can become hoarse and lose sonority. In some cases, the patient can only speak in a whisper;
- discomfort when swallowing;
- dry cough, attacks of which occur in the morning;
- sensation in the throat of a foreign body.
At the same time, the general condition is practically not disturbed, and the body temperature remains normal.
With the hypertrophic form of the disease, the following signs are observed:
- problems with the voice: it becomes very hoarse and rough, sometimes breaks into falsetto. Some patients may have difficulty speaking;
- pain, dryness, itching, feeling of a foreign object in the throat;
- excruciating cough in the morning, in which a large amount of phlegm is released.
In severe cases, breathing disorder is observed.
The following symptoms may indicate the presence of an allergic form of the disease:
- a sharp attack of suffocation after contact with an allergen, lack of air and difficulty breathing;
- cough in which the voice remains unchanged.
With regular contact with the allergen, a change in voice occurs, as well as a coughing and sore throat.
Laryngitis cough
One of the signs of laryngitis is coughing. It arises as a protective reflex when an infection enters the larynx mucosa.
Cough is one of the symptoms of laryngitis
At the initial stage of the disease, a dry cough is noted. In this case, phlegm is practically not released, or its amount is minimal. In the future, the cough becomes paroxysmal. It can start at any time (with tension of the voice, in a dry room or on public transport). In this case, it is difficult for the patient to inhale, as cough shocks occur. The face turns red, watery eyes appear, and in some cases there is an attack of panic.
After the attack stops, breathing remains noisy and rapid, accompanied by a whistle. In the future, it normalizes until the next exacerbation.
Another characteristic sign of laryngitis is a barking cough: it looks more like a dog barking and indicates a spasm of the laryngeal mucosa. This cough is also paroxysmal.
Often, patients with laryngitis are worried about a nocturnal cough. Attacks do not allow sleep almost all night, endowment occurs only in the early morning hours, when the adrenal glands begin to secrete the maximum amount of the hormone prednisolone, which reduces the inflammatory process and eliminates spasm.
A wet cough, in which a large amount of phlegm is released, is a sign of recovery. However, it can also indicate the development of complications (bronchitis or pneumonia). In this case, the patient's condition worsens, the body temperature rises again, shortness of breath and weakness appear.
How to treat laryngitis
Treatment of laryngitis in adults should be comprehensive. In order to quickly cure the disease, you must:
- reduce the number of conversations. If a person is silent, the larynx mucosa recovers much faster. You should not try to speak in a whisper, because in this case the tension of the vocal cords is greater than during normal speech;
- observe the drinking regime. This makes it possible to quickly remove toxins from the body and reduce the viscosity of sputum. In this case, the mucous membrane is restored faster. The recommended volume is up to two liters of liquid (still water, tea, fruit drink or herbal decoction). Drinks should be warm and not overly pungent;
- maintain a favorable climate in the living space. The air in the apartment should be cool and humid, as dryness and heat slow down the regeneration of the mucous tissues of the larynx. But at the same time, it is better to wrap the throat with a warm scarf;
- stick to a diet. In order not to injure the mucous membrane of the larynx once again, during illness it is necessary to eat warm liquid food with a neutral taste. Salty, sour and spicy foods are excluded from the diet. Especially carefully follow the diet for people who have gastroesophageal reflux disease as the cause of laryngitis;
- get rid of bad habits. Smoking slows down the recovery processes and leads to the fact that the disease becomes chronic. Alcohol consumption can also cause harm, since this reduces the protective functions of the body;
- use hot foot baths. This procedure will reduce the swelling of the laryngeal mucosa, thereby relieving the patient's condition. Also for this purpose, you can apply mustard plasters to the area of the calf muscles. But at elevated body temperature, such procedures must be abandoned.
Drug treatment
At the initial stage of the disease, antiseptics are used. They act on the causative agent of the disease, eliminate the inflammatory process and accelerate recovery, especially in cases where the voice has disappeared. The funds are produced in the form of lozenges, lozenges or lozenges (Isla-moos, Faringosept, Lisobakt, Strepsils, Septefril). You can also use preparations in the form of sprays (Orasept, Ingalipt, Hexasprey).
As part of a comprehensive treatment, local antiseptic agents are prescribed
To treat cough, which is one of the main symptoms of laryngitis, the following can be used:
- antitussives of central action. They have a depressing effect on the cough center located in the brain. Such medicines are prescribed for dry paroxysmal cough, as well as for stenosis of the larynx. The composition of the funds includes codeine (Codterpin) or citrate butamirate (Sinekod). A doctor's prescription is required to purchase these drugs. Exceeding the dosage regimen is dangerous, since, in addition to the cough center, they also depress the respiratory center. Long-term use of drugs containing codeine is impossible, as this can lead to the development of addiction;
- mucolytics. Such drugs are used in the event that there is viscous sputum, they contribute to its excretion and liquefaction. For treatment, drugs containing acetylcysteine (ACC), carbocisteine (Langes) or ambroxol (Lazolvan) are used;
- herbal antitussive preparations based on extracts of ivy, licorice, marshmallow. They have an anti-inflammatory effect, relieve cough, eliminate laryngeal edema. They are not recommended for dry barking coughs.
It must be remembered that mucolytics cannot be combined with centrally acting antitussive drugs. This can lead to stagnation of phlegm in the airways and the development of undesirable consequences.
Antibiotic therapy for laryngitis is carried out only if the causative agent of the disease is a bacterial infection. To identify it, a study of material taken from the mucous membrane of the larynx is carried out. Also, you must first take a blood test. Most often, in the complex treatment of the disease, broad-spectrum antibiotics are used from the group of penicillins or cephalosporins.
Laryngitis during pregnancy must be treated with caution, as most drugs cross the placental barrier and can harm the fetus. In this case, the emphasis is on inhalation and rinsing.
Rinses
Gargling helps to reduce the manifestations of the disease, moisturize the mucous membrane of the larynx, accelerate its regeneration, restore voice, reduce inflammation and edema.
Soda or saline is most commonly used for gargling.
The following solutions are used for the procedure:
- soda solution. To prepare the product, one teaspoon of soda is dissolved in 200 ml of warm water. You need to gargle in the morning and in the evening for 5-7 minutes;
- sea salt solution. To prepare it, dissolve one teaspoon of sea salt in 200 ml of warm water. The procedures are carried out up to three times a day. You can also prepare a solution of salt and soda;
- carrot broth. For its preparation, one carrot is boiled in 500 ml of milk. Gargle with such a decoction once a day before bedtime. After the procedure, do not drink water or eat;
- infusions of medicinal plants. In order to prepare a gargle, one teaspoon of sage, calendula, chamomile, oak bark or St. John's wort is insisted in 200 ml of boiling water. After the infusion cools down, it is filtered and used twice a day. For rinsing, you can use ready-made herbal preparations, such as Elekasol.
Inhalation
When inhaled, medications go directly to the affected areas of the larynx, which makes it possible to reduce the inflammatory process and eliminate edema.
The easiest and most effective way is steam inhalation. For them, you can use decoctions of medicinal plants or essential oils. To prepare the product, a pinch of sage, linden, fir, calendula or eucalyptus is poured with water and boiled for 2-3 minutes. After the product has cooled down a little, you need to bend over the container, covering yourself with a towel (see photo).
The simplest and most effective method of therapy is steam inhalation.
You can also use essential oils for the procedure. To prepare the solution, add 3-5 drops of eucalyptus, tea tree, lavender, cedar or fir oil to a glass of hot water. The procedure is carried out in the same way as with decoctions.
Prevention
In order to avoid the development of the disease, you must:
- avoid contact with people who have signs of a cold;
- lead a healthy lifestyle, eat right, play sports, temper;
- to refuse from bad habits.
To prevent the disease, it is recommended to lead an active lifestyle and play sports
If treatment is not started on time, scars or nodules may develop on the vocal cords and cause short-term loss of voice.
In severe cases, paralysis of the vocal cords occurs, then the voice disappears for a long period, and it is very difficult to return it. The disease can progress to laryngotracheitis, tracheitis, bronchitis or pneumonia. Therefore, at the first signs of the disease, it is necessary to consult an otolaryngologist.
Video
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Anna Kozlova Medical journalist About the author
Education: Rostov State Medical University, specialty "General Medicine".
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