Is laryngitis serious?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on September 21, 2024
00:00
00:00

Laryngitis is a relatively common otolaryngology disease, and generally, it is not particularly severe. The more common types of laryngitis include acute laryngitis and chronic laryngitis. Clinically, it mainly manifests as sore throat, hoarseness, and a foreign body sensation in the throat. In terms of treatment, medication remains the main approach. For acute laryngitis, oral antibiotics can be considered, commonly cephalosporins or penicillins. For chronic laryngitis, taking traditional Chinese medicine orally can be considered, and it is advisable to combine this with nebulizer therapy, with regular follow-ups to monitor recovery. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 25sec home-news-image

What to eat for laryngitis

Laryngitis is an emergency in otolaryngology, commonly seen in infants and toddlers. Generally, it is caused by acute inflammation that irritates the pharyngeal mucosa, mainly the vocal cords, leading to congestion and edema of the pharyngeal mucosa. Patients may exhibit sudden high fever, with a body temperature above 38°C, severe sore throat, hoarse voice, bark-like cough, and in severe cases, it may cause breathing difficulties or even lead to suffocation and death. Examination with an electronic laryngoscope can reveal severe edema of the bilateral vocal cords and incomplete closure of the glottis. In treatment, laryngitis initially requires symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment. A routine blood test should be conducted; if there is an increase in white blood cells and neutrophils, a bacterial infection should be considered, and oral administration of cephalosporins or penicillin antibiotics is effective. If lymphocytes are elevated, the patient should receive symptomatic antiviral treatment, which is also effective. Additionally, nebulized inhalation should be used to help reduce local congestion and edema. A bland diet should be maintained, avoiding spicy and irritating foods. Recovery is typically within about a week. (Please take medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 6sec home-news-image

What department should I go to for laryngitis?

Laryngitis requires an examination by an otolaryngologist. It is an emergency in the field of otolaryngology and is common in infants and young children. It can cause sudden high fever in patients, with body temperature above 38.5℃, severe throat pain, breathing difficulties, and painful swallowing. In severe cases, it may also lead to a barking cough, choking, and even death. If a patient exhibits the above symptoms, an initial test with an electronic laryngoscopy can reveal significant congestion and edema of the vocal cords. In terms of treatment, laryngitis primarily requires symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment to reduce inflammation. It is also necessary to locally apply corticosteroids to lessen the congestion and swelling of the vocal cords and avoid breathing difficulties. During treatment, the patient's breathing should be closely monitored, and if choking occurs, a tracheotomy may be needed. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician and avoid self-medication.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 10sec home-news-image

Can I eat watermelon with laryngitis?

Laryngitis can be treated by eating watermelon, which is completely fine. Laryngitis refers to an acute inflammatory infection of the throat, often caused by the invasion of Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus hemolyticus, and it commonly occurs in infants and young children. Due to the loose mucous membranes in the throats of infants and young children, once an inflammatory infection occurs, it can easily cause the patient to have fever, voice changes, hoarseness, a bark-like cough, and the patient may also experience breathing difficulties. In severe cases, it may lead to suffocation or even death. In terms of treatment, patients with laryngitis must receive symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment, and can take oral or intravenous antibiotics, such as cephalosporin antibiotics, which are effective. Patients also need to use corticosteroids to reduce acute congestion and swelling in the throat, adhere to a light diet, avoid spicy and irritating foods, and eat more vegetables and fruit to gradually improve. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Bai Yan Hui
Pediatrics
47sec home-news-image

Symptoms of acute laryngitis in children

Pediatric acute laryngitis varies in severity and symptoms. Common symptoms include hoarseness, whole lung coughing, and inspiratory breathing difficulties, as well as other respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Additionally, there may be systemic symptoms like fever. Seizures may occur in children under six years old. If the symptoms of laryngeal obstruction in laryngitis are prominent, the affected child may show signs of listlessness or irritability, inspiratory breathing difficulties, flaring nostrils, and a positive three-concavity sign.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
55sec home-news-image

Can laryngitis heal by itself?

Patients with laryngitis can be cured. The primary causes of laryngitis are related to factors such as long-term smoking and drinking, improper use of the voice, and catching colds. In patients with laryngitis, the affected areas are primarily located on the vocal cord mucosa and the bilateral aryepiglottic fold walls, where the surface mucosa becomes edematous. For patients with laryngitis, it is important to avoid catching colds in daily life and to protect the voice by avoiding prolonged talking. By resting the voice, the laryngitis can often heal itself. If the laryngitis repeatedly does not heal, symptomatic treatment can be administered by taking oral traditional Chinese medicine that clears the throat and benefits the voice, thereby eliminating the mucosal inflammation in the throat. (Please take medications under the guidance of a doctor.)