Introduction
Especially people who speak a lot and frequently (e.g. singers or teachers) fear vocal cord inflammation. But also during the cold season many people suffer from the annoying disease due to a cold. There are a number of characteristic symptoms by which vocal chord inflammation can easily be recognized. If vocal cord inflammation is suspected, those affected must take care of their voice. If problems persist, an ENT physician should be consulted who can treat the inflammation and the symptoms.
These are the typical symptoms of vocal cord inflammation
An inflammation of the vocal cords causes a number of typical symptoms. These include: You can read about other typical symptoms of vocal cord inflammation here: These are the typical symptoms of an inflammation of the vocal cords
- Hoarseness (dysphonia)
- Deep or scratchy voice
- Pain when speaking
- Loss of voice (aphonia)
- “Lump” in the throat
- Feeling of swelling in the neck (“thick neck”)
- Coughing compulsion
- Swallowing difficulties
- Sore throat
- Slime formation
- Irritation of the throat
- Laryngeal pain
- Fever
- Lassitude and tiredness
- General feeling of illness
- In severe cases breathing difficulties
The characteristic symptom of vocal cord inflammation is hoarseness and loss of voice. At first, the affected persons feel a strong scratching in the throat, which quickly leads to hoarseness.
As a result, the voice suffers and in some cases, complete loss of voice (aphonia) can occur. Due to the inflammation of the vocal cords, the vocal cords swell and can no longer vibrate freely, causing problems with speaking and hoarseness. Normally, hoarseness is harmless and disappears by itself after a few days if the voice is spared.
However, hoarseness that persists for weeks or recurring voice loss should be urgently examined by a doctor. To treat hoarseness, it helps to drink sufficient fluids in the form of warm herbal teas or still water. This moistens the mucous membranes and vocal cords.
Inhalation and gargling solutions also support a quick healing. A medical treatment of hoarseness in case of vocal chord inflammation is not necessary in most cases. In most cases vocal chord inflammation is accompanied by severe sore throat.
The sufferers complain of swallowing problems and a swollen “thick” throat, which feels rough and hurts. A proven household remedy for sore throats and hoarseness is onion juice. This involves cutting an onion into small pieces, pouring hot water over it and sweetening with honey.
Sage sweets and warm herbal tea also relieve the discomfort. An inflammation of the vocal cords can also lead to an inflammation of the larynx. In addition to hoarseness and coughing, larynx pains also occur.
In case of a laryngitis the voice must be protected and loud speaking, singing or shouting should be avoided. In addition, neither cigarettes nor alcohol should be consumed, since this irritates the larynx even further. In contrast to vocal chord inflammation, laryngeal inflammation always requires drug treatment, as otherwise a chronic form of the disease can quickly develop.
The physician prescribes anti-inflammatory medicines such as Ibuprofen or in the case of a bacterial infection antibiotics. or The larynx inflammation with the child recognize and treatWith a vocal chord inflammation the persons concerned have a constant throat compulsion. The affected persons feel a “lump” in the throat and try to get rid of the foreign body sensation by repeated clearing and coughing.
In addition to hoarseness, the compulsion to clear one’s throat is one of the first signs of vocal cord inflammation. Frequent clearing is a vicious circle, however, because even after the inflammation has healed, the compulsion to clear the throat remains in many people. Permanent clearing of the throat can also lead to complications in the long run.
For example, the vocal chords may lose elasticity and their ability to vibrate may be limited. Therefore, in the case of vocal cord inflammation, one should try to avoid frequent clearing of the throat. An inflammation of the vocal cords can develop into an inflammation of the larynx.
The affected persons usually have an increased salivation (hypersalivation). This often leads to an uncontrolled leakage of saliva from the mouth (sialorrhea). The diseased persons perceive the increased salivation and sialorrhea as “drooling” and find the situation stressful.After the inflammation has healed, salivary flow regulates itself and an explicit treatment with medication is not necessary.
Swallowing difficulties (or dysphagia) are any kind of problems with the swallowing process. Dysphagia often occurs in the context of vocal cord inflammation and is caused by the swollen and inflamed vocal cords at the entrance to the windpipe. In most cases, they are associated with sore throat and a foreign body sensation in the throat (“lump in the throat”).
Swallowing difficulties are very unpleasant, but they can be treated well with simple home remedies. Those affected should drink plenty of fluids, as this moistens the mucous membrane of the throat. Warm teas made from medicinal herbs (e.g. sage or thyme) also alleviate the symptoms.
In the case of vocal chord inflammation, it is generally important to keep the throat warm with warm compresses or scarves. Swallowing difficulties can also be improved by warmth. The entire throat and vocal chords are lined with a layer of mucous membrane.
In the case of vocal cord inflammation, the bacterial infection can lead to an excessive production of mucus in the throat area. As a result, more mucus is deposited on the vocal chords and causes problems when speaking. Herbal tea with honey has a natural expectorant effect and can alleviate the symptoms of vocal chord inflammation. The consumption of milk should be renounced during an acute vocal chord inflammation however, since milk continues to have a mucolytic effect.
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