Pain of the larynx
When the larynx hurts, there can be many different causes. A harmless cold can sometimes cause pain in the larynx. Also mostly harmless is laryngitis, which can be caused by viruses, bacteria or external influences such as smoking.
It usually heals without complications. A more dangerous disease is the inflammation of the epiglottis (epiglottitis). It is accompanied by severe pain when swallowing and high fever.
In the worst case, the epiglottitis can lead to death by suffocation and must therefore be treated by a doctor. In its later stages, laryngeal cancer can also cause pain if the tumor affects nerves as it spreads. Accompanying symptoms are often unwanted weight loss, heavy night sweats and swollen but painless lymph nodes. Clarification by a physician is advisable if the pain persists.
Diseases of the larynx
Laryngeal inflammation, also known as laryngitis in specialist circles, is an inflammation of the laryngeal mucosa. There are many causes for this. In most cases, laryngitis is caused by a viral infection that either originates in the nose and throat and then spreads downwards into the larynx, or the focus of the infection is in the lungs and then moves upwards into the larynx.
More rarely, bacteria are responsible for an inflammation of the larynx. Other causes can be harmful influences such as tobacco smoke, vapors or excessive consumption of alcohol. The doctor differentiates between an acute form of laryngitis, caused by viruses or bacteria, and a chronic inflammation, which is caused by overstraining the voice, often observed in singers, or external stress caused by harmful substances.
Laryngeal inflammation can affect the entire laryngeal mucosa or only a part of it, for example the vocal folds. With regard to the symptoms, patients initially report hoarseness and coughing. Frequent clearing of the throat can also be noticeable.
Rather rarely do patients also complain of shortness of breath. The reason for this is usually a swelling of the vocal folds, which hinders breathing through greater resistance. Since a swelling in the larynx can be life-threatening, an emergency doctor should be alerted in this case for further clarification and, if necessary, admission to hospital should be made.
The diagnosis of a laryngitis includes a medical history, a thorough examination of the throat, pharynx and larynx and, if necessary, a laryngoscopy, i.e. a reflection of the larynx. Here the doctor can look directly into the larynx and the vocal cords with a special device, more precisely with a small mirror attached to a rod, the so-called laryngoscope. In the therapy of acute laryngitis, inhalations and mucolytic and anti-inflammatory drugs, but also steam baths are used.
The voice should also be protected. An antibiotic is used for bacterial infections. As a rule, an acute laryngitis heals completely.
However, complications such as shortness of breath can occur, which then require further treatment in hospital. Since chronic laryngitis can be triggered by many different stimuli, the doctor must first determine the cause together with the patient. This is followed by a therapy individually adapted to the patient’s case.
This can include language training with a speech therapist or avoiding harmful substances such as cigarette smoke. In the neck area there are some important human organs, including the thyroid gland, the windpipe, the esophagus and the larynx. In the case of swelling in the throat area, it is therefore necessary to differentiate exactly what causes the swelling and which organs are affected.
As with pain, there are various possible causes of laryngeal swelling. As a matter of principle, a doctor should be consulted in the case of swelling of the larynx, as the proximity to the windpipe can lead to massive breathing problems and even death. A possible cause of a swollen larynx can be laryngeal edema.
This is an accumulation of fluid around the larynx that can be caused by infections, injuries, allergies or tumors. Laryngeal inflammation can lead to swelling of the mucous membrane, which makes breathing difficult.The patient reports breathlessness and should receive medical attention. A swollen larynx can also be an expression of an epiglottitis, which must be treated urgently as there is a risk of suffocation.
Cancer of the larynx is the most common malignant tumor of the head and neck. It is a squamous cell carcinoma, which means that the tumor originates from the superficial cell layer of the larynx, the so-called squamous epithelium. Men are generally more frequently affected than women.
The causes for the development of laryngeal cancer are not yet fully understood at this stage. However, there seems to be a connection with smoking and the consumption of alcohol. Furthermore, viruses are also possible triggers for carcinoma.
The symptoms of laryngeal carcinoma are initially very similar to those of laryngitis. The main symptoms are changes in the voice, hoarseness and a foreign body sensation in the throat. If the hoarseness lasts longer than about two weeks, it is recommended to consult a doctor!
If the cancer of the throat continues to progress and spreads, the symptoms become more widespread. It then often comes to sometimes severe pain when swallowing and bloody sputum. A painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the throat can also be an indication of a malignant disease of the larynx.
In addition, excessive, unintentional weight loss as well as heavy night sweating must be taken into account. If the tumor presses on nerves, this can lead to numbness and paralysis of the muscles involved. Metastases rarely occur.
The therapy depends on the location, size and extent of the tumor. Radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgical procedures are used.
