Laryngitis Viral Infection results from inflammation of the larynx, especially in the vocal cords. The inflammation prevents the vocal cords from moving normally and vibrating freely as the air passes. Talking becomes painful. The voice is altered, raucous, or outright extinguished. There are two types of laryngitis: acute laryngitis and chronic laryngitis, and there are differences between laryngitis in children and adults.
Laryngitis Viral Infection Causes
1. Acute Laryngitis
This is by far the most common form. It occurs suddenly and subsides after a few days or weeks. The most common causes of acute laryngitis are in adults, infectious diseases, traumatic laryngitis, and there are other causes rarer. Infectious laryngitis in adults is more often due to bacteria than to viruses and is often associated with risk factors (tobacco, alcohol, dusty environment, vapors, vocal malfunction, moisture, cold, gastroesophageal reflux, Respiratory allergy, etc.
Traumatic laryngitis can be caused by overexertion of the vocal cords causing a hematoma at the laryngeal level: screams in an evening, singing in the head, screaming during great stress, etc. It can also be a trauma caused by a shock (sport, accident, aggression) or intubation during a medical procedure. Laryngitis of rarer causes exists like acute laryngitis due to an allergy (shock allergic) where the larynx undergoes brutal edema, toxic vapors, or radiotherapy of the zone of the neck.
2. Chronic adult laryngitis
When the symptoms last more than three weeks, there is talk of chronic laryngitis. In more than 90% of cases, it is a man smoker between 45 and 55 years. Chronic laryngitis is usually caused by prolonged exposure to irritating factors. Transformations of the larynx are sometimes permanent and can cause acute laryngitis to repeat, in professional singers for example. The causes of chronic laryngitis are:
- Repeated exposure to toxic vapors, allergenic substances
- Chronic inhalation of irritants (tobacco, dust, asbestos, glass wool, etc.)
- Problems of gastroesophageal reflux (acid reflux) irritants to the larynx
- Chronic sinusitis or nasal discharge in the larynx (posterior rhinorrhea)
- Excessive and chronic alcohol consumption factor irritation when associated with other irritants (such as tobacco)
- Excessive and repeated solicitation of voice
- The use of inhaled corticosteroids
- Radiotherapy of the neck area (to treat cancer)
- Precancerous or cancerous lesions of the larynx
- Paralysis of the vocal cords caused by a stroke or an injury
Laryngitis Viral Infection Symptoms
- Respiratory slowing (bradypnea)
- A difficulty to inspire. Attention, a difficulty in exhaling is a sign of asthma, no laryngitis
- A drawing: when the inspiration is difficult, the soft parts of the thorax widen (the spaces between the ribs, the region under the ribs near the stomach, and the region above the ribs at the base of the neck)
- A raucous noise at the passage of the air
- A hoarse voice or outright extinction
- A dry cough
Laryngitis Viral Infection Risk factors
Acute laryngitis is a rather common condition, but some factors increase the risk:
- Contracting an infection of the respiratory tract: colds, bronchitis, or sinusitis
- Exposure to irritants such as cigarette smoke or pollution
- Being diabetic
- Undue solicitation of the voice
- Alcohol abuse
- Suffering from gastroesophageal reflux
Prevention of laryngitis
A good way to prevent laryngitis is already to avoid excessive voice demand. People with a cold or flu should be particularly careful in this regard. The following few tips are then of good use:
- Refrain from smoking and avoid second-hand smoke
- Wash your hands regularly so as to limit the transmission of respiratory infections
- Use disposable handkerchiefs and dispose of them immediately in the trash after use
- Do not shake your hands when you are coughing or the person you are talking to
- Do not drink alcohol excessively
- Avoid as much as possible exposing yourself to irritants in your personal life (product vapors, dust in tinkering), then in your professional life
- Treat Gastroesophageal reflux if you have one
- handle your respiratory allergies by appropriate treatment or desensitization where possible
- Treat your asthma
- Drink a lot of water
- Avoid scratching your throat
- Your diabetes, your hyperthyroidism or hyper androgen
- Check that you are not lacking vitamin A
- Vaccinate your children against diphtheria, mumps, rubella, measles, and Hemophilus influenza.
