Laryngitis - Laryngitis

Laryngeal catarrh - Inflammation of the laryngeal mucosa

If you suffer from hoarseness, constant throat clearing, and a lump in the throat, it may indicate laryngitis. It threatens the total failure of the voice, which is why the laryngitis especially in people in "speech professions" is feared.

contents

• Laryngeal catarrh - Inflammation of the laryngeal mucosa
• Definition of laryngitis
• Symptoms of laryngitis
• Causes of laryngitis
• diagnosis
• therapy
• Naturopathy with a laryngitis

Definition of laryngitis

The laryngitis describes an inflammation of the larynx or the mucous membrane on the larynx. Alternative names include, for example, laryngitis, laryngitis, inflammation of the laryngeal mucosa or laryngeal inflammation. The fascia distortion model also refers to a trigger band on the neck, a cylinder distortion on the neck or a continuum distortion on the larynx.

The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies the symptoms according to the International Classification of Cranial Diseases (ICD-10) as being between acute laryngitis and chronic laryngitis.

Laryngitis is typically associated with scratching the throat and hoarseness, but it can also cause sore throats, fever and coughing. (Image: Beßler / Havlena / pixelio.de)

Symptoms of laryngitis

Main symptoms of laryngitis are mostly coughing and hoarseness. As mentioned above, it can also come to a lump in the throat with Räusperzwang. In the course of the inflammation, fever can also occur. The restriction of the voice can go so far that a complete loss of the voice occurs. Also, the breathing may be impaired, which often causes anxiety and anxiety in those affected. In infants it can come to the so-called pseudo-group.

Causes of laryngitis

In acute laryngitis viruses are often the trigger, which can affect the mucous membrane of the larynx in the context of a cold. Likewise, irritation from inhalation of (fine) dust or smoke is considered a major factor in the development of laryngitis. The heavy use of the voice, for example in the context of the profession, forms another known risk factor. This may be due to the fact that the voice, with its organic origin in the larynx, in people with speech professions particularly irritated or massively burdened by infections from the environment.

Reflux may be the cause of repeated laryngeal inflammation as the mucous membrane is irritated by the expelled gastric acid. (Image: Henrie / fotolia.com)

Irritation may also be due to reflux when the mucous membrane of the larynx comes in contact with inflamed stomach acid. In addition, increased mouth breathing due to poor nasal breathing is a risk factor to mention. Because the respiratory air is only insufficiently warmed and moistened, which permanently irritates the upper respiratory tract and can cause an inflammation.

Chronic laryngitis should always be observed, as chronic inflammation is an irritant that can more quickly lead to the formation of unrestrained cell growth or cancer.

diagnosis

The diagnosis of laryngitis can usually be based on a visual inspection of the pharynx. In case of doubt, a special endoscope is used, which can be pushed deep into the throat and allows a direct view of the mucous membrane. Within the scope of endoscopy, it is also possible to take a tissue sample for subsequent laboratory examination.

As a rule, an optical examination of the pharynx is sufficient to detect laryngitis, but often further examinations are necessary to narrow down the causes of the symptoms. (Image: Alexander Raths / fotolia.com)

Although clearly visible changes in the laryngeal mucosa are a reliable indication of laryngitis, its cause has not been clarified. The laboratory examination of a smear of the mucous membrane can serve here as well as the determination of causative agents, as a blood test, which also contributes to the exclusion of other diseases. Other diagnostic procedures are used depending on the suspected causes of laryngitis.

therapy

Important measures for laryngitis are firstly a ban on speaking (as far as possible) and the avoidance of irritant inhalants (tobacco smoke, gases, vapors, dust, dry heating air) and bed rest in cold symptoms with fever. After identifying the cause of the inflammation, a targeted therapy can also be carried out. For example, reflux can be medicated with so-called proton pump inhibitors, and antibiotics can be used to treat a bacterial infection. In viral infections, however, the possibilities of drug treatment are limited to symptom relief. Sufferers suffering from acute respiratory distress may be given cortisone to reduce the mucous membranes.

Naturopathy with a laryngitis

Among the naturopathic treatment approaches, which are also recommended in conventional medicine against laryngitis, include inhalations based on saline. If necessary, an inhaler can be borrowed from the pharmacy for this purpose. Naturopathy also relies on laryngitis for the effect of various medicinal plants, with sage being one of the most well-tried home remedies for laryngitis. This can be drunk as a tea or used for gargling. Warm compresses around the neck also relieve the symptoms and can aid healing.

As a medicinal plant, sage has been proven many times in laryngeal inflammation. In particular, gargling with sage tea is recommended as a home remedy. (Image: ChaotiC_PhotographY / fotolia.com)

If, after a few days, there is no significant improvement or difficulty breathing, prompt consultation with a doctor. Careful, unhealed laryngitis can become chronic!

The manual methods of naturopathy such as osteopathy or Rolfing look beyond the acutely affected neck region for causes and treatment approaches. Whether it is regional adhesions in the interstices (fascia), which may cause a congestion or if there are connections with the body statics.

Bonding and twisting of this connective tissue represent a possible cause and simultaneously the treatment approach to be selected according to the Fascial Distortion Model (FDM). In this case, the affected persons use several fingers to draw a line next to the larynx, called the trigger band, and the thumb from the FDM therapist is treated.

Especially in people in "speech professions" who repeatedly suffer from a laryngitis, a respiratory and voice therapy is advised, in which an economic use of voice, speech and breathing air is trained. This will avoid unnecessary irritation of the laryngeal mucosa.

If increased susceptibility to infection is the cause of repeated laryngeal inflammations, in naturopathic therapy concomitant measures are often taken to strengthen the immune system in general and in the presence of hyperacidity a balance in the acid-base balance is sought. (tf, fp, updated 19.08.2016)
Specialist supervision: Barbara Schindewolf-Lensch (doctor)