Laryngitis: The Basic
An article detailing the basics of laryngitis: The general cause, detection method and determining if it is contagious. Some people may be unfamiliar with the word “laryngitis,” although the meaning of the word itself is extremely well known and widespread; most people are undoubtedly more familiar with the term “sore throat.” Laryngitis derives from the word “larynx,” which means voice box, and this organ is the one which enables us to speak, shout and of course, sing. Larynx consists of a cartilage framework which housed the vocal cords, covered with mucus coating. It’s important to note that the larynx is able to shift the position of the vocal cords, and that’s precisely the reason why we could produce different sounds.
The position of the larynx is at the connection between the mouth and trachea, it’s also where the epiglottis is located; epiglottis is a flap like cover which functions to prevent food and saliva from entering the larynx while swallowing. This is the reason why when a person swallows, the food, water or whatever else does not enter the respiratory system. The epiglottis will make sure of that.
Laryngitis is composed of two words; ‘larynx’ meaning voice box, and ‘itis’ meaning inflammation. So laryngitis is basically the inflammation of the voice box. This condition is associated with hoarseness and if the inflammation is severe enough, it may lead to loss of voice. Pretty scary huh?
General Causes of Laryngitis
Laryngitis is the inflammation of the vocal cords. In infants or toddlers, symptoms of laryngitis are as follows:
- Coughing accompanied by asphyxiation (breathing difficulties)
- Barking cough accompanied by hoarseness
- Some infants or toddlers afflicted by laryngitis will experience fever
The above symptoms are prevalent in children (more about laryngitis in children here.. or winter and throat problem in children), but are they also prevalent in adults? Here are the symptoms in adults.
- Runny nose,
- Dry cough that does not produce mucus
- Sudden loss of voice or hoarseness
A chronic laryngitis typically lasts for more than three weeks and can be caused by alcohol, cigarettes and possibly an overextended mild cough.
Hoarseness and altered voice are the two main symptoms of laryngitis, but if the cause of laryngitis is virus or bacteria then the symptoms may differ, among which:
- Dry cough without mucus
- pain in the neck area
- Fever or abnormal body temperature
- Pain when swallowing
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Throat discomfort, feeling of something lodged in the throat
Laryngitis in children may seem more concerning, as they try to breathe through the swollen and narrowing larynx. The swollen larynx will make it more difficult for the children to breathe, yeah it's looks almost the same with the tonsil stones symptoms (more about tonsil stones in this webpage). This doesn’t really occur in adults as the larynx in adults is more developed than in children. Laryngitis in children can be a quite frightening experience.
What do you think? Is laryngitis contagious?
If we’re referring to laryngitis caused by viral or bacterial infection, then yes, it is contagious. Much like the common cold, usually the body is able to ward off these virus and bacteria before they develop into an infection.
How to easily detect laryngitis
Healthcare experts are able to diagnose laryngitis quickly and accurately in hospitals or polyclinics. They usually inquire what our activities prior to developing laryngitis were, as well as our history of respiratory and oral disorders. But generally speaking, when we come in with a case of hoarseness, chances are the healthcare providers present on the scene would immediately suspect laryngitis.
In case of laryngitis, examinations are usually conducted on the ear, nose and throat. In addition, doctors will also look for symptoms related to other disorders. For example, if some areas of the throat appear more reddish than normal, it may be a sign of oral or throat cancer. If you happen to be a smoker or a problem drinker or even a singer or vocalist, don’t be alarmed if your physician makes queries regarding your habit or profession. They might also inquire about your immediate environment at home and at work, as these do influence the onset of laryngitis.
There’s a procedure commonly used by ear, nose, and throat specialists (ENT), to check the condition of our vocal cords, called laryngoscopy. Laryngoscopy is essentially a general checkup method used by physicians to examine the vocal cords. By using this procedure, physicians are able to directly monitor and evaluate the health and well-being of the vocal cords.
So basically how this procedure works is by inserting a thin tubes which light and magnifies images in the throat. An ENT specialist would then be able to examine and determine whether or not any disorder or irregularities are present and take the appropriate action.
If you’ve already developed laryngitis, what steps can you take?
There’s actually various ways of coping with laryngitis. You can always visit your doctor’s office and get it over with, it’ll cost you of course. Or you could try some natural ingredients (other post about it - chicken sou for laryngitis and sore throat) proven to be just as effective in dealing with laryngitis, such as honey, ginger, tea and so on. All of these ingredients have been proven to be effective in relieving the symptoms of laryngitis. Also, these ingredients are rich of nutrients and are generally good for your overall health. It’s worth noting, that in the healing period, a patient of laryngitis is better off resting, as proper rest will expedite recovery.
As with other structures of an inflamed body, proper resting is the key to healing. For laryngitis, that means limiting speech. Speak only when necessary and avoid whispering, as whispering requires the vocal cords to be stretched out and requires more surrounding muscles.
You’ve learned a whole lot on laryngitis, so what’s your next step?
Prevention is always better than a cure. If we hope to avoid laryngitis we need to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Take the time to properly rest, never neglect the importance of proper resting. Avoid cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, sweet foods and drinks as well as junk food in general.
If you happen to be a singer or someone who uses their voice professionally, be sure to take proper care of your voice. Ensure you take sufficient amount of water as well as consuming highly nutritious fruits and vegetables.
Also, seeing as laryngitis can be caused by virus and bacteria, be sure to avoid family and friends exhibiting classic laryngitis symptoms. Or perhaps you can use a medical mask when socializing with them. More about laryngitis and voice/throat problem here
Keeping your immediate environment clean may also help you reduce the chances of developing laryngitis. You also need to frequently wash your hands and keep the level of your oral hygiene high, as virus and bacteria can easily spread through direct contact. Lastly, take care when the weather is cold, do not forget to properly warm yourself to avoid developing laryngitis as well as other ailments. Good luck!
The position of the larynx is at the connection between the mouth and trachea, it’s also where the epiglottis is located; epiglottis is a flap like cover which functions to prevent food and saliva from entering the larynx while swallowing. This is the reason why when a person swallows, the food, water or whatever else does not enter the respiratory system. The epiglottis will make sure of that.
Laryngitis is composed of two words; ‘larynx’ meaning voice box, and ‘itis’ meaning inflammation. So laryngitis is basically the inflammation of the voice box. This condition is associated with hoarseness and if the inflammation is severe enough, it may lead to loss of voice. Pretty scary huh?
General Causes of Laryngitis
Laryngitis is the inflammation of the vocal cords. In infants or toddlers, symptoms of laryngitis are as follows:
- Coughing accompanied by asphyxiation (breathing difficulties)
- Barking cough accompanied by hoarseness
- Some infants or toddlers afflicted by laryngitis will experience fever
The above symptoms are prevalent in children (more about laryngitis in children here.. or winter and throat problem in children), but are they also prevalent in adults? Here are the symptoms in adults.
- Runny nose,
- Dry cough that does not produce mucus
- Sudden loss of voice or hoarseness
A chronic laryngitis typically lasts for more than three weeks and can be caused by alcohol, cigarettes and possibly an overextended mild cough.
Hoarseness and altered voice are the two main symptoms of laryngitis, but if the cause of laryngitis is virus or bacteria then the symptoms may differ, among which:
- Dry cough without mucus
- pain in the neck area
- Fever or abnormal body temperature
- Pain when swallowing
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Throat discomfort, feeling of something lodged in the throat
Laryngitis in children may seem more concerning, as they try to breathe through the swollen and narrowing larynx. The swollen larynx will make it more difficult for the children to breathe, yeah it's looks almost the same with the tonsil stones symptoms (more about tonsil stones in this webpage). This doesn’t really occur in adults as the larynx in adults is more developed than in children. Laryngitis in children can be a quite frightening experience.
What do you think? Is laryngitis contagious?
If we’re referring to laryngitis caused by viral or bacterial infection, then yes, it is contagious. Much like the common cold, usually the body is able to ward off these virus and bacteria before they develop into an infection.
How to easily detect laryngitis
Healthcare experts are able to diagnose laryngitis quickly and accurately in hospitals or polyclinics. They usually inquire what our activities prior to developing laryngitis were, as well as our history of respiratory and oral disorders. But generally speaking, when we come in with a case of hoarseness, chances are the healthcare providers present on the scene would immediately suspect laryngitis.
In case of laryngitis, examinations are usually conducted on the ear, nose and throat. In addition, doctors will also look for symptoms related to other disorders. For example, if some areas of the throat appear more reddish than normal, it may be a sign of oral or throat cancer. If you happen to be a smoker or a problem drinker or even a singer or vocalist, don’t be alarmed if your physician makes queries regarding your habit or profession. They might also inquire about your immediate environment at home and at work, as these do influence the onset of laryngitis.
There’s a procedure commonly used by ear, nose, and throat specialists (ENT), to check the condition of our vocal cords, called laryngoscopy. Laryngoscopy is essentially a general checkup method used by physicians to examine the vocal cords. By using this procedure, physicians are able to directly monitor and evaluate the health and well-being of the vocal cords.
So basically how this procedure works is by inserting a thin tubes which light and magnifies images in the throat. An ENT specialist would then be able to examine and determine whether or not any disorder or irregularities are present and take the appropriate action.
If you’ve already developed laryngitis, what steps can you take?
There’s actually various ways of coping with laryngitis. You can always visit your doctor’s office and get it over with, it’ll cost you of course. Or you could try some natural ingredients (other post about it - chicken sou for laryngitis and sore throat) proven to be just as effective in dealing with laryngitis, such as honey, ginger, tea and so on. All of these ingredients have been proven to be effective in relieving the symptoms of laryngitis. Also, these ingredients are rich of nutrients and are generally good for your overall health. It’s worth noting, that in the healing period, a patient of laryngitis is better off resting, as proper rest will expedite recovery.
As with other structures of an inflamed body, proper resting is the key to healing. For laryngitis, that means limiting speech. Speak only when necessary and avoid whispering, as whispering requires the vocal cords to be stretched out and requires more surrounding muscles.
You’ve learned a whole lot on laryngitis, so what’s your next step?
Prevention is always better than a cure. If we hope to avoid laryngitis we need to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Take the time to properly rest, never neglect the importance of proper resting. Avoid cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, sweet foods and drinks as well as junk food in general.
If you happen to be a singer or someone who uses their voice professionally, be sure to take proper care of your voice. Ensure you take sufficient amount of water as well as consuming highly nutritious fruits and vegetables.
Also, seeing as laryngitis can be caused by virus and bacteria, be sure to avoid family and friends exhibiting classic laryngitis symptoms. Or perhaps you can use a medical mask when socializing with them. More about laryngitis and voice/throat problem here
Keeping your immediate environment clean may also help you reduce the chances of developing laryngitis. You also need to frequently wash your hands and keep the level of your oral hygiene high, as virus and bacteria can easily spread through direct contact. Lastly, take care when the weather is cold, do not forget to properly warm yourself to avoid developing laryngitis as well as other ailments. Good luck!