Laryngitis
An inflammation and swelling of the voice box (larynx) and the area around it, usually associated with hoarseness or loss of the voice. The problem is most common in late fall, winter, or early spring.
Cause
The voice box contains the vocal cords and is located at the top of the airway to the lungs. When the vocal cords become inflamed or infected, they swell, which can cause hoarseness and may even obstruct the child’s airway.
The most common form of laryngitis is caused by a viral infection, although it also may be caused by a bacterial infection or the common cold, bronchitis, flu, or pneumonia. Common laryngitis is not normally associated with any breathing difficulty.
Several other forms of laryngitis in children— CROUP and EPIGLOTTITIS—can lead to fatal obstruction of the respiratory tract. Other causes of laryngitis include laryngeal polyps, laryngeal paralysis, precancerous changes of the throat, malignant tumors, allergies, and trauma.
Symptoms
Symptoms include a recent upper respiratory infection, fatigue, hoarseness, fever, and swollen lymph nodes or glands in the neck.
Treatment
Since most common laryngitis is viral, treatment with antibiotics is generally not necessary. Resting the voice helps to reduce inflammation of the vocal cords, and a humidifier may ease the raw feeling sometimes associated with laryngitis. Decongestants and painkillers may ease symptoms from the upper respiratory infection.
Call a Doctor
Rarely, severe respiratory distress may develop. A doctor should be consulted if the child has trouble breathing or swallowing, or if a small child is drooling. A doctor should be called if a child less than three months old is hoarse, or if an older child has been hoarse for more than a week.
Prevention
Avoiding upper respiratory infections during cold and flu season may help prevent laryngitis. This can be done by thorough hand-washing, avoiding others with infections, and wiping surfaces in the home when people are sick.
