Laryngitis
Nov. 4th, 2002 05:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
spiderdustFrom https://www.yourhealth.com/bin/build_result_doc.pl?SEARCHTERM=Laryngitis++&page=/CRS/AHA/crs/chronlar.htm:
What is laryngitis
Laryngitis is inflammation of the larynx (voice box) and the area around it. It can be a symptom of a common cold, bronchitis, sinusitis, and other respiratory infections.
There are two forms of laryngitis, acute and chronic. Acute laryngitis occurs suddenly and does not last long. Laryngitis is chronic if the hoarseness in your throat lasts for a long time.
How does it occur?
Acute laryngitis is usually caused by a virus, but it can also result from a bacterial infection.
Chronic laryngitis can be caused by:
heavy smoking
overuse of the voice by speaking or singing loudly
coughing violently
exposure to chemicals.
Possible causes of a change in the voice that takes place over a few weeks are:
thyroid disease
noncancerous growths on the vocal cords
cancer of the larynx.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of both acute and chronic laryngitis include:
low, raspy voice and hoarseness
a cough that is dry (you aren't coughing up mucus)
sensation of a dry throat
little or no pain
a voice that weakens as the day progresses.
How is it diagnosed?
Your health care provider will listen to your voice, review your symptoms, and examine you. Your provider will also examine your thyroid gland (the gland located near your voice box) and the lymph glands in your neck. Lab tests and x-rays may be done, but often they are not helpful.
If necessary, a specialist will look at your voice box and surrounding area with a laryngoscope (a special light to see past your tongue).
How is it treated?
To help your voice box heal:
Do not smoke.
Rest your voice as much as you can.
Use a nonprescription pain reliever, such as ibuprofen.
Follow carefully your health care provider's instructions for taking any medicines he or she may have prescribed. For example, your provider may prescribe a topical steroid spray for your throat. Or, if your laryngitis is caused by sinusitis or bronchitis, your treatment may include taking medicines for these conditions.
How long will the effects last?
When acute laryngitis is caused by a virus, it usually goes away in a few days without medicine. Laryngitis caused by bacteria should also be better in a few days with treatment.
If you have chronic laryngitis, your condition should improve with a week of rest. If your hoarseness lasts more than 3 weeks, your health care provider may need to do more tests to rule out other diseases.
How can I take care of myself?
Follow the treatment plan prescribed by your health care provider. In addition, you can:
Avoid breathing irritating smoke, dust, and fumes.
Rest your voice as much as possible.
Rest, or decrease your activities.
Avoid becoming overheated or fatigued.
Get as much sleep as possible.
Drink extra fluids, such as water, fruit juice, and tea.
Take hot, steamy showers and breathe in the moist air, or breathe through a hot, moist towel.
Use a cool-mist humidifier at home to increase moisture in the air.
Don't smoke.
So what does all this mean? I have acute laryngitis & am not supposed to go back to work until Thursday. I'm also supposed to avoid talking whenever possible (hence the not being allowed to go to work).
Here's to another tiny paycheck. :/
What is laryngitis
Laryngitis is inflammation of the larynx (voice box) and the area around it. It can be a symptom of a common cold, bronchitis, sinusitis, and other respiratory infections.
There are two forms of laryngitis, acute and chronic. Acute laryngitis occurs suddenly and does not last long. Laryngitis is chronic if the hoarseness in your throat lasts for a long time.
How does it occur?
Acute laryngitis is usually caused by a virus, but it can also result from a bacterial infection.
Chronic laryngitis can be caused by:
Possible causes of a change in the voice that takes place over a few weeks are:
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of both acute and chronic laryngitis include:
How is it diagnosed?
Your health care provider will listen to your voice, review your symptoms, and examine you. Your provider will also examine your thyroid gland (the gland located near your voice box) and the lymph glands in your neck. Lab tests and x-rays may be done, but often they are not helpful.
If necessary, a specialist will look at your voice box and surrounding area with a laryngoscope (a special light to see past your tongue).
How is it treated?
To help your voice box heal:
How long will the effects last?
When acute laryngitis is caused by a virus, it usually goes away in a few days without medicine. Laryngitis caused by bacteria should also be better in a few days with treatment.
If you have chronic laryngitis, your condition should improve with a week of rest. If your hoarseness lasts more than 3 weeks, your health care provider may need to do more tests to rule out other diseases.
How can I take care of myself?
Follow the treatment plan prescribed by your health care provider. In addition, you can:
So what does all this mean? I have acute laryngitis & am not supposed to go back to work until Thursday. I'm also supposed to avoid talking whenever possible (hence the not being allowed to go to work).
Here's to another tiny paycheck. :/
