When we are disturbed by hoarseness, burning and tickling in the throat; which forces you to grunt and cough - this is probably laryngitis. The disease affects both children and adults, but depending on the age of others are its symptoms and slightly different course.
The most common cause of laryngitis is "freezing" the mucous membrane of the larynx with a cold drink (also in summer) or "overtraining" the voice. Another common cause of the disease is a viral inflammatory throat infection. Its symptoms - catarrh of the nose and conjunctivitis - are often accompanied by a dry cough, hoarseness, scratching and burning in the throat. The inflammation of the larynx can also be caused by allergens in people with allergies. Another reason for laryngitis is staying in dry, dusty air.
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. Loose connective tissue of the larynx of a small child is very susceptible to inflammatory edema and contractions, which causes that laryngitis in children is manifested by sudden dyspnoea and other life-threatening symptoms.
Occupational disease in adults?
The cause of inflammation may also be excessive, prolonged voice effort. That's why teachers, actors, salespersons and professional politicians are exposed to laryngitis, so people who speak a lot because of their profession. When speaking, you breathe in not through your nose but through your mouth. The larynx gets air that is not heated, not cleaned, not moistened - which is done in the nasal cavity. This promotes the formation of inflammation. Therefore, the disease is known as the occupational disease of singers, teachers and speakers. In these people it is often chronic.
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 inflammation of the laryngeal mucosa.
Symptoms of chronic inflammation
The most typical symptom of the disease is persistent hoarseness constantly modulating the voice. Hoarseness may be accompanied by a cough that sometimes goes into no sound. The easy fatigue of the voice is characteristic. As a result of thickening and swelling of the vocal cords, the patients complain about the feeling of scratching and drying in the throat.
CHILDHOUSE INFLAMMATION IN CHILDREN
Warning! Symptoms of acute inflammation in young children can 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.
