Laryngitis – What is it, Causes and Treatments

Laryngitis – What it is, Causes and Treatments we should know. In addition, Laryngitis  is the name we give to inflammation of the larynx , the region of the airways where the vocal cords are located. Laryngitis has several causes, the main ones being allergies, infections , smoking, gastroesophageal reflux or excessive voice use . Inflammation of the larynx and vocal cords can manifest as  acute laryngitis or chronic laryngitis.

Laryngitis therefore has three functions :

• Channel breathed air towards the vocal cords and trachea.
• Act as a valve, closing the windpipe when you swallow, preventing food or liquids from entering your airways.
• Allow the emission of sounds through the vibration of the vocal cords with the passage of air from the lungs.

When the larynx becomes inflamed, we say that the patient has Laryngitis , a condition predominantly characterized by inflammation of the vocal cords, which causes a reduction in their ability to vibrate, leading to hoarseness or loss of voice.

Causes of Laryngitis: Laryngitis persists  for weeks and is usually caused by ongoing irritation factors. Some of the possible causes are:

• Excessive use of alcohol;
• Smoke;
• Gastroesophageal reflux;
• Allergic reactions (allergic laryngitis);
• Chronic sinusitis;
• Excessive and constant use of the voice;
• Autoimmune diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis);
• Bacterial or fungal infections;
• Parasite infections.

In cases of chronic hoarseness , Laryngitis may just be a symptom of more serious diseases, such as cancer.

Symptoms of Laryngitis:  Acute Laryngitis , of rapid onset, may not last long; in chronic laryngitis  there are long periods of hoarseness, which can permanently affect the vocal cords or lungs. The main symptoms of Laryngitis vary according to its severity, but in general they are:

• Ache.
• Hoarseness or total loss of voice.
• Shortness of breathe.
• malaise.
• Soreness and itching in the throat.
• Dry cough.
• Difficulty swallowing.
• Enlargement of the lymph nodes in the neck.
• Lump sensation in the neck.

Laryngitis Treatment:  Home treatment is all you need for most cases of Laryngitis . Among the recommendations are:

• Rest your voice as much as possible. The patient should speak softly and slowly, avoiding whispering. Talking on the phone or out loud should also be avoided.
• Don’t clear your throat. If you have a dry cough, an over-the-counter medication may help.
• Keep the environment moist with steamers or water basins
• Drink a lot of fluid. This helps to irrigate the vocal cords, preventing straining them and helping with recovery.
• Do not smoke and keep the patient away from secondhand smoke.

Prevent Laryngitis:  To prevent  Laryngitis  it is important to stay healthy and rest normally to minimize conditions that lead to Laryngitis , in addition to avoiding smoking, exposure to smoke and excess alcohol. It is important to always drink plenty of non-cold fluid and avoid abusing your voice.