Diagnosis | Hoarseness in children

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of hoarseness in children is made by the doctor by examining the throat with a spatula or mirror, on the basis of the typical mucous membrane changes in the vocal cords with redness, swelling and possible deposits. This examination with the classical sticking out of the tongue and “saying ah” is usually very unpleasant for children due to the unintentionally caused gag reflex and should be performed last by the examiner. The doctor will also be interested in the type and duration of the symptoms.

If a closer and clearer examination of the vocal cords is necessary, a so-called endoscope, a tubular medical instrument for examining body cavities, can be advanced to the larynx under anesthesia. Here the vocal folds can be viewed directly under a microscope and, if necessary, tissue samples can even be taken. If hoarseness is suspected to be caused by a thyroid dysfunction, a blood test to determine the thyroid hormones is recommended. These indicate the functionality of the thyroid gland.

Symptoms

If the cause of hoarseness in children is a cold, it is often accompanied by a cold, cough, fever or sore throat. A child with hoarseness is most noticeable by its silence. Talking with hoarseness is tedious and difficult for children.

The sound of the voice changes and usually appears rough, shaky, scratchy and covered. It can even lead to a complete failure of the voice. So the children are left with the “voice gone”.

Persistent dry cough in the context of an infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract is probably one of the most common causes of hoarseness in children. The strong irritation of the cough irritates the vocal folds and the voice becomes rough and hoarse. The inflammation can also spread to the vocal cords, which is called vocal chord inflammation (laryngitis). Due to the inflammation, the mucous membrane of the throat and the mucous membrane of the vocal chords swell, which prevents the vocal chords from vibrating freely.