Laryngitis is a lesion of the larynx, which is caused by disturbances in the mucous membrane under the influence of infection or bacteria. If the disease is not treated in time, it will quickly turn into a chronic form. The development of laryngitis is facilitated by hypothermia, mouth breathing while outdoors, heavily polluted air, tension in the larynx and, of course, bad habits. What is laryngitis and how is it treated? This should be looked into in more detail, especially since this disease may not be as harmless as it seems at first glance.
Etiology of laryngitis
Laryngitis is a disease of the upper respiratory tract, in which the mucous membrane of the larynx is primarily affected. Adults will be able to notice that when they are sick, their voice can change significantly, sometimes it completely disappears. Naturally, this disease also has many other symptoms that it is simply impossible not to pay attention to. Most often, laryngitis does not occur on its own, butis a complication after previous various respiratory diseases.
According to ICD-10, laryngitis is assigned the code J04, the disease is included in the fifth group (respiratory diseases). If a sick person is not properly treated, then he can suffer from unpleasant symptoms for a long time.
Types of laryngitis
Basically, doctors distinguish two forms of the disease: acute and chronic. Consider each of them separately:
- Acute laryngitis practically cannot develop as an independent disease. Often it is a consequence of influenza or SARS, in which not only an inflammatory process appears, but also the mucous membrane of the nose and larynx swells, sometimes the respiratory tract also suffers. This type of laryngitis occurs when there is a lot of tension on the vocal cords, such as when you scream, sing, or make long speeches.
- Chronic laryngitis can begin to develop after its acute form has not been completely cured. It also happens that the disease develops precisely in smokers, since tobacco smoke has a bad effect on the epithelial layer, which leads to its depletion. The voice with laryngitis of this form becomes rough and hoarse, and full recovery cannot be achieved.
Specialists, in addition to the above forms, distinguish a few more:
- Catarrhal laryngitis is accompanied by a sore throat, there is a feeling that something is hurting inside the larynx. Unpleasant sensations are accompanied by a constant cough. In this case, the prognosis for recovery will be the mostfavorable.
- The atrophic variety of the disease is characterized by the fact that the mucous membrane decreases in size, therefore, due to its damage, small streaks of blood can be released when coughing.
- It also happens that laryngitis occurs against the background of an allergy in a patient.
- Hypertrophic laryngitis is characterized by a strong thickening of the mucous membrane of the larynx, such changes interfere with the closure of the ligaments, and the person may completely lose the ability to speak.
- Dangerous form - diphtheria. In this case, the infection begins to spread to the larynx from the tonsils. The entire mucosa can be covered with a membrane, which will lead to further blockage of the airways at the level of the ligaments.
What type of laryngitis develops in a particular patient, the doctor will be able to determine, but only after prescribing all the necessary tests.
Reasons for the development of laryngitis
What is laryngitis and how is it treated? This is a question that interests many people, since the disease itself is not uncommon. Before treatment is prescribed, it is worth paying attention to the causes that can provoke the disease. The fact is that the elimination of the cause can help not only to cure the disease, but also never to face it again in the future.
The most common cases when laryngitis begins to develop after severe hypothermia of the body. Local defense systems fail, the cellular structures of the mucous membrane are damaged,an inflammatory process is triggered. Then the infection begins to develop. It can also spread with sinusitis.
Another irritating factor comes second - the air polluted with dust, which is inhaled along with it.
Laryngitis affects people who, for some reason, often strain their vocal cords.
The disease may be a consequence of surgical intervention on the mucous membrane of the larynx.
It is impossible to exclude various bad habits, which also adversely affect the functioning of the body.
How long laryngitis lasts is difficult to answer, since much depends on the severity of the disease and the correct treatment. However, the fact that every person can prevent the occurrence of an ailment is an irrefutable fact.
Disease symptoms
Recognizing the signs of laryngitis in adults is much easier than in young children. It is enough just to pay attention to such symptoms in order to diagnose the disease yourself:
- Coughing may come first. It is characteristic of this disease if it is dry and not pressing.
- The throat with laryngitis swells a lot, it is due to this that the voice becomes hoarse, and sometimes it can completely disappear.
- The throat will not hurt much, but it will tickle, so there is a need to clear it with a cough.
- Sometimes, sharp pain occurs only when swallowing, which causes a lot of unpleasantsensations.
- When taking a blood test, a doctor can diagnose an increased number of white blood cells, which will first of all indicate an inflammatory process.
- The temperature often rises with laryngitis to high levels.
If laryngitis occurs in an acute form, then it will be possible to recover completely only after three weeks, but when the disease does not go away within two months, then it will be more correct to speak of its chronic course.
Complications from improper treatment
If the disease is not treated, complications may occur; the disease will gradually turn into chronic bronchitis or tonsillitis. The acute phase of the disease can provoke the development of laryngeal edema and the occurrence of croup. In this state, a person can suffocate. It is important to provide first aid as soon as possible, otherwise there is a risk of death.
According to the ICD-10, laryngitis has the code J 05.0. In this case, the diagnosis is "acute obstructive laryngitis", otherwise the disease can be called croup. It is often recorded in young children, which means that a medical emergency must be provided. When treatment is not started in a timely manner, there are risks that a tumor of a benign nature will begin to form in the larynx, which can then turn into a malignant one.
Diagnosis
Only an experienced doctor can accurately determine the symptoms and prescribe the right treatment, so therapy in complex cases must be completedunder the supervision of a specialist. In the process of diagnosis, the doctor must take an anamnesis, carry out a physical examination and present a complete picture of the disease. If the doctor suspects more complex forms of the disease, and the symptoms of laryngitis in adults or children differ from those generally accepted, then he may prescribe additional types of studies, such as:
- Laryngoscopy.
- Blood test.
- Fluorography.
- Examination of swabs from the larynx.
It is necessary to consult an otolaryngologist in cases where the symptoms of the disease do not go away within two weeks, often there is severe pain in the larynx, which can even give into the ear, and blood is coughed up.
Treatment of laryngitis
Symptoms of laryngitis in adults are most pronounced, so in some cases it is possible to determine the disease yourself. The patient will need a sparing regimen, so rest and the creation of conditions for recovery will be required. First of all, it is necessary to remove all factors that can increase inflammation in the larynx. If at the initial stages it is not possible to get rid of the disease, and the general condition only worsens, then one cannot do without medical assistance. As a rule, taking into account the seriousness of the disease, the doctor prescribes therapy according to the following scheme:
- First of all, it will be necessary to reduce the load on the larynx and vocal cords. Doctors in this case recommend talking less.
- In some cases, it will be useful to stick to a dietand avoid eating foods that can irritate the mucous membranes.
- If you have bad habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol, then they will have to be abandoned.
The patient needs more than just rest. It should be provided with warm drinks, herbal decoctions and natural juices
If diagnosed with laryngitis, clinical recommendations should not be ignored. Treating only home methods is wrong, so it is important to pay attention to the following points:
- Medications are often prescribed in the form of aerosols, such as Camphomen, Ingalipt. You can dissolve special tablets.
- Given that the cough is dry, expectoration should be provided with drugs such as Mukoltin or Gerbion.
- Coffeex and Sinekod will help ease the cough.
- If laryngitis arose as a result of an allergy, then it is necessary to take antiallergic drugs - Loratadin, Suprastin.
- Specialists prescribe antibacterial antibiotics in especially serious cases. These can be Bioparox, Ampicillin, Oxacillin.
- Additionally, formulations based on radiola, aralia and pantocrine can be prescribed to strengthen the body.
Other physiotherapy methods can bring good results, for example, such as:
- Electrophoresis with novocaine.
- UHF.
- Microwave therapy.
- UFO.
What is laryngitis and what is ittreat, it is not difficult to understand, but in severe and moderate forms, it is necessary for the patient to provide medical assistance, otherwise there is a risk of serious complications that can lead to death. Experts advise using Lugol to lubricate the throat. It is this tool that helps to reduce the impact of pathogenic flora. It is dangerous when laryngitis becomes chronic, it is almost impossible to get rid of it. With such a course of the disease, the voice function is disturbed, and the patient's voice changes completely. People who suffer from constant exacerbation of chronic laryngitis are at risk for laryngeal cancer. In this case, it is necessary to achieve stable remission with the help of drugs, take vitamins, do alkaline and antibiotic inhalations, use traditional medicine methods.
Inhalations for laryngitis
Experts say that inhalation is considered an effective way to combat laryngitis. Often, for such events, an ultrasonic inhaler is used, which helps the patient breathe properly with an infusion of healing herbs. For example, chamomile, which has an antibacterial effect, is actively used for such cases. There are special preparations for inhalation, which can be purchased at the pharmacy without any problems. This allows you to carry out therapies at home, for example, use steam inhalations with different herbs or even do alkaline inhalation. Doctors may prescribe special medications and antihistamines. To achieve complete recovery, sometimes it is required to do procedures at least 3-7 times a day. Often, patients use a nebulizer for laryngitis. The nebulizer can be filled with mineral water and medicines prescribed by a doctor. But it is not recommended to do steam inhalation in such cases:
- If a sick person has a high body temperature.
- If purulent discharge was found in the nasopharynx.
- Do not put medicines that the patient may not be able to tolerate in the inhaler.
- Uncontrolled use of the inhaler by people with bronchial asthma and other breathing disorders is not allowed.
- If there is a tendency to constantly bleed from the nose.
It is necessary to follow all recommendations and use inhalation drugs very carefully so as not to aggravate the general condition of the patient.
Home treatment and diet
Before you start treatment at home, you should first consult with your doctor. There are certain tips to follow:
- As soon as laryngitis begins to develop, the patient should drink more warm tea, and it is important to pay attention to the fact that the drink is decaffeinated, since it is this substance that causes dehydration.
- Rinse with laryngitis is welcome. According to reviews, there is nothing better than calamus. You should take two teaspoons of this plant, pour boiling water over it, insist for five hours and use it as a gargle.
- An excellent option for gargling is onion peel. It is enough to pour half a liter of water three teaspoons of husks, boil and insist for six hours, and then rinse the larynx with this decoction.
- Adult laryngitis can be treated at home with blueberry decoction and apple cider vinegar.
- Many patients like to do eggnog for laryngitis. The yolk is beaten with a spoonful of sugar, a tablespoon of melted butter is added there and everything is thoroughly mixed. If this remedy is used for five days, then you can restore your voice.
- Vegetable oil mixed with chicken egg protein is also considered an excellent remedy in the fight against laryngitis. Drink the resulting remedy in small sips throughout the day.
- To increase immunity, you can use various herbs, for example, nutritious teas from linden, mint will be an excellent tool. They can be drunk in unlimited quantities.
- Treatment of laryngitis in adults at home can be done with carrots boiled in milk. This decoction can not only be drunk, but also used as a gargle.
- An excellent folk method in the fight against sore throat is tea with grated ginger and honey. For half a liter of boiling water, you need to take 5 teaspoons of ginger, honey is used as a bite.
Folk methods can be a great way to get well, but only if they are recommended by a doctor. It is impossible to completely exclude drug treatment, as this is likely to lead to a deterioration in well-being and serious complications. Alsopeople who often suffer from chronic laryngitis should follow a special diet and monitor their he alth. In case of illness, in no case should you abuse carbonated or alcoholic drinks, smoke, eat spicy foods, seeds and nuts, and it is also not recommended to use garlic and mustard. The diet should include liquid and not too hot food.
Prevention
What is laryngitis and how it is treated is understandable, but there are also preventive measures that will help to avoid this disease. Consider them in more detail:
- When using any medicine, you should carefully read the annotation. This will help not to use drugs that lead to drying of the mucous membrane.
- If a cold occurs, then it should be cured as soon as possible and prevent the development of laryngitis.
- When a person falls ill with SARS, you should immediately observe the home regimen, drink warm drinks, and if you have problems with your voice, try to speak quietly so as not to strain your vocal cords once again.
- The room should be wet cleaned.
People who play sports and harden are less likely to get this disease.
The article presented the symptoms of laryngitis. Treatment at home can be carried out only after consultation with a specialist. The disease requires immediate treatment so that exacerbation can be prevented in advance. It is desirable that it takes place under the supervision of a doctor, otherwise it will not be possible to achieve a full recovery.
