Laryngitis is a condition in which the larynx becomes inflamed due to overuse, irritation, or infection. The symptoms associated with laryngitis result from the inability of the vocal cords to vibrate properly due to swelling due to inflammation. The most common symptoms associated with laryngitis can be listed as hoarseness, dryness in the throat and difficulty in speaking. This inflammatory disease, which can be seen in men or women of all ages, can also occur in babies. In infants, laryngitis often occurs as part of a viral infection called croup. Croup is an infection that mainly affects the respiratory tract of infants and young children.
What is Laryngitis?
Laryngitis is characterized by a feeling of lump in the throat, pain and hoarseness as a result of inflammation of the vocal cords for various reasons. is an inconvenience. The vocal cords are located in the larynx at the top of the neck just behind the throat. Since the larynx is called the larynx in the medical literature, its inflammation is called laryngitis. The difference between laryngitis and pharyngitis, which is often confused with each other, is the anatomical location of the inflamed throat area. The pharynx starts behind the nose and ends just above the larynx. Laryngitis is classified into two subclasses, acute and chronic, according to the duration of the symptoms. Acute laryngitis is an inflammation of the throat caused by mild irritation or infections and heals in an average of 3 weeks. Chronic laryngitis, on the other hand, is a form of laryngitis that lasts more than 3 weeks, usually develops due to permanent or repetitive damage to the larynx, and occurs when it is damaged or constantly damaged for more than 3 weeks.
Causes of Laryngitis
The causes of laryngitis, which can occur due to various reasons, may vary depending on whether it is acute or chronic. Causes of acute laryngitis:
Laryngitis Symptoms
Most of the complaints due to laryngitis are temporary and often do not exceed two weeks. Although it affects men or women equally at all ages, it tends to be more severe in children because their airways are smaller. There is a voice disorder in approximately one out of every 50 people in the society and on average half of these cases are caused by laryngitis. The most common laryngitis symptoms can be itemized as follows:
- Hoarseness and hoarseness
- Feeling of a lump or feeling of something in the throat
- Persistent dry cough
- Dry throat
- Itching and tickling in the throat
- Difficulty speaking
- Pain in the throat
- The need to clear the throat frequently
- Mild fever
- Headache
- Runny nose
- Pain on swallowing
- Swelling in the lymph nodes
- Weakness
- Weakness
- Fatigue
What Is Good for Laryngitis?
It is possible to control laryngitis cases with some methods, natural remedies and teas that can be applied at home most of the time. For this purpose, take The precautions that can be taken and the practices that can be done are as follows: (8)
- Using lozenges: Throat lozenges can alleviate pain by contributing to moistening the throat. Lozenges can also help kill germs or reduce redness. Lozenges are not suitable for use in children under 4 years of age
- Resting the vocal cords: In laryngitis, swelling develops in the vocal cords due to irritation. Time is needed for the swelling to subside. For this, try to avoid situations that require a lot of talking and shouting.
- Grinding with warm salt water: Grinding with warm salt water can help relieve pain and irritation in the throat.
- Humidifying the air you breathe: Breathing dry air can make throat irritation and inflammation in the vocal cords worse. Humidifying the air with the help of a steam tool or a wet towel hung on the heater can have a positive effect on your symptoms. Simply filling the basin with water and placing it in the room with its mouth open may be sufficient.
- Using apple cider vinegar: According to studies, it has been determined that apple cider vinegar has antimicrobial properties. Although apple cider vinegar is thought to be good for throat inflammation for this reason, research on this subject is not yet fully sufficient.
- Green tea with honey: A warm cup of tea is very effective for relieving an irritated throat. There's also evidence that compounds found in teas like green tea have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties, according to research. For this reason, it can be said that green tea, combined with the healing properties of honey, is good for throat inflammation.
- Garlic: Garlic has been used in many different societies throughout history to prevent and treat diseases. The use of garlic can help reduce the severity and duration of infection-related complaints.
Is Laryngitis Contagious?
Laryngitis is not always contagious. Laryngitis due to infection can be transmitted from person to person. The most common types of contagious laryngitis are:
Treatment of Laryngitis
Acute laryngitis heals on its own in most cases, without the need for any treatment, within a week to ten days. However, taking measures such as resting the voice, taking plenty of fluids and humidifying the air can accelerate recovery. Treatment of chronic laryngitis focuses on treating underlying conditions such as reflux, excessive smoking or alcohol use. The drugs used for some cases can be listed as follows:
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