If the child is disturbed by hoarseness in speaking, grunting and coughing and complains about burning in the throat it probably has laryngitis. The disease affects both children and adults, but depending on the age of others are its symptoms and slightly different courseg.
Diseases and their causes that cause laryngitis in children
♦ Acute epiglottitis in the child (epiglottitis acuta) - this is a serious disease, is caused mainly by Haemophilus influenzae in children between 2 and 7 years of age.
♦ Acute subglottic laryngitis in a child (laryngitis subglottica acuta) - an inflammation most commonly caused by parainfluenza viruses, influenza, adenovirus, ECHO virus, etc.
♦ Acute laryngotracheitis of the child (laryngotracheitis) - inflammation occurs in young children between 2-4 years of age and is also caused by the above mentioned viruses, but may be subject to secondary bacterial infection.
FORMS AND CLAIMS OF DISEASE
There are two main types of laryngitis:
- acute pharyngitis (laryngitis acuta) or
- chronic laryngitis (laryngitis chronica).
Acute laryngitis in children
In children after the age of 5, it manifests itself mainly in hoarseness, cough, fever, but in younger people it is a life-threatening condition resulting from the specific structure of the airways and larynx in a small child. The airways are narrow and even a small swelling can cause severe shortness of breath. The loose connective tissue of the small child's larynx is very susceptible to post-inflammatory swelling and contraction states, which causes that laryngitis in children is manifested by sudden dyspnea and other life-threatening symptoms.
Chronic laryngitis
This type of inflammation develops secretly, imperceptibly, often following acute, unhealed inflammation of the laryngeal mucosa. It can also arise from the same reasons as acute laryngitis. It occurs mainly in adults.
COURSE INCLINATION IN CHILDREN
Warning! Symptoms of acute inflammation in young children may be life-threatening.
Laryngitis in young children does not need to precede any discomfort. Suddenly, most often at night, the child gets a coughing-barking attack, barely catching the air. The cause of the symptoms may be both epiglottitis (part of the larynx) caused in 90% of cases by bacteria, as well as so-called subglottic laryngitis (most often caused by viruses), which are typical inflammatory conditions of this organ, in children between 1 and 8 years of age. Fast-growing breathlessness, "barking" cough, high fever, inhalation of the air, accompanied by the sounds of "rooster crowing" - require immediate intensive medical help and call an ambulance.
Before the ambulance arrives.
You can also unscrew the taps with hot water in the basin or pour it into the basin and place the child - ideally under the towel to inhale the warm and humid air. If the attack passes we put the child in a warm, well-moistened room (wet towels on radiators!). When the ambulance arrives, the child will probably receive a steroid drug that will reduce the swelling of the larynx.
Acute epiglottis in a child (epiglottitis acuta)
This is a serious disease caused mainly by Haemophilus influenzae in children between 2 and 7 years of age. As we have already mentioned - the construction of the larynx of the child, the ease of swelling and laryngeal spasm, cause that the symptoms may appear suddenly and rapidly, leading to inspiratory-exhalation dyspnoea. Sore throat, fever, hoarseness or noiselessness, difficulty in swallowing, salivation, fluids are the first symptoms of this infection.The child requires prompt medical intervention and should always be hospitalized, preferably in the children's ENT.
Acute subglottic laryngitis in a child (laryngitis subglottica acuta)
This type of inflammation is most often caused by parainfluenza, influenza, adenovirus, ECHO virus, etc. The cause of the inflammation may also be allergy, emotional excitement of the child, changes in temperature, humidity, and air pollution. Subulbral laryngitis may be present in infants, but most often affects children up to 3 years old (it also happens to older children). Typical symptoms are nocturnal symptoms of the disease: exacerbation, barking coughing, hoarseness, roasting of the cock. The child requires prompt hospitalization, including intravenous glucocorticoid administration, 2nd generation antihistamines, hydration, providing NaCl inhalation for hydration of the airways, the right temperature and humidity of the room in which he is staying.
Acute laryngotracheitis in a child (laryngotracheitis)
This type of inflammation occurs in young children between 2-4 years of age. Inflammation is also caused by viruses, but may be subject to secondary bacterial infection. The main symptoms are: pain behind the breastbone, persistent, dry cough, thick mucus, which is difficult to get rid of. In the case of crusted tracheitis secretions dry up in scabs, there is increasing breathlessness, the cough reflex is getting weaker. Such a child requires quick hospitalization, hydration, thinning drug for mucorrhagic and expectorant mucus, phlegm, and airway clearance using a special microsurgical technique.
TREATMENT OF KRTANI IN CHILDREN
General principles of treatment
The most important thing is to eliminate the causes and symptoms of laryngitis. Absolutely during the period of illness one should refrain from drinking cold drinks, ice-cream or hot dishes.
Treatment of inflammation caused by inflammatory viral infection in adults and older children
When the cause of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the larynx is inflammatory virus infection (cold, flu, etc.) and the symptom of infection is increased secretion of mucus and the retention of thick secretions in the trachea - the treatment involves the use of drugs that dilute the secretion (mukolityczynch), take more fluids, and taking care of sufficient humidification of rooms during the heating period. Only with very severe dyspnoea, which may happen in older children, hospitalization is indicated. Otherwise, symptoms usually pass without a trace.
Treatment of acute inflammation in children
As we already know, the cause of symptoms in children can be both epiglottitis (part of the larynx), as well as so-called subglottic laryngitis, or epiglottis and tracheitis. Depending on the severity of the symptoms (and usually the age of the child), we call an ambulance or treat the child at home. We have discussed the medical treatment in detail above.
When the first acute attack of laryngitis occurred in a small child
We prevent the next attack by constantly humidifying the air in the house during the heating season - placing special containers with water at the radiators, or buying air humidifiers. We do not allow you to smoke cigarettes around your child. We remove irritating and sensitizing substances, especially from the room in which the child sleeps. If the attacks are repeated and are violent, the doctor may prescribe the child a steroid drug - for example in aerosol, which immediately reduces the swelling of the larynx. Older children and adults use expectorants.
Natural (home) children's treatment
At the neck should be applied wraps drying without a coat, with water at room temperature, changed several times a day. Gargle and inhalation are not necessary.
