Respiratory System Conditions
Subtopic:
Acute Laryngitis
LARYNGITIS
- Inflammation of the larynx. It may also involve the surrounding tissues; pharynx and Laryngitis may be acute or chronic.
- Acute Laryngitis
- Is an occasional complication of acute infectious fever particularly caused by viruses g. mumps, influenza, parainfluenza or by bacteria
e.g. diphtheria. The inflammatory oedema involves the vocal cords and the epiglottis but there maybe associated involvement of trachea (tracheitis) and bronchi (bronchitis), hence, collectively called laryngotracheobronchitis.
Signs and symptoms
- Symptoms of infection; such as fever, bodyache, malaise and
- Symptoms due to vocal cord oedema, g. huskiness and hoarseness of voice and difficulty in speech, sore throat, complete loss of voice.
- Narrowing of upper airway, producing barking cough (croup) and an audible stridor (loud nose).
Diagnosis;
Hx and P/E; such as examination of the larynx with a laryngoscope to reveal edema of the vocal cords
Treatment of acute laryngitis
- Identifying and treatment of the cause accordingly; if diphtheria is the cause, isolation of patient, barrier nursing care and diphtheria anti-toxin must be instituted along antibiotic treatment.
- Similarly if measles is the cause, isolation and proper
- Rest the voice; patient is advised to speak less, he or she can communicate with gestures if hoarseness or complete voice loss.
- Light diet with plenty of fluids may be advised
- Steam inhalation to sooth the
- Specific antibiotics in case of secondary bacterial infection
- Since most cases of laryngitis are viral; no need for anti-virals since it resolves with the above treatment.
Chronic laryngitis
- It is chronic inflammation of the larynx leading to progressive hoarseness of
Causes;
- Tubercular laryngitis
- Cigarette smoking
- Chronic overuse of the voice as in singers
- Malignancy of larynx (laryngeal carcinoma)
- Allergy and exposure to irritants
- S/S; progressive hoarseness which may end in complete voice loss, edema and thickening of the cords on laryngoscopy.
- Rx; depending on the cause;
- -smokers should stop
- -Vocal rest is encouraged
- Anti-tubercular drugs incase of TB
- Surgery or radiotherapy incase of laryngeal
- If it was due to allergens give;
- Tabs Promethazine 5mg/kgbwt 12hourly or Tabs Chlorphenamine 2mg 8 hourly and or remove or avoid the allergens
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