The typical symptoms of chronic vocal cord inflammation | These are the typical symptoms of vocal cord inflammation

The typical symptoms of chronic vocal cord inflammation

The most typical symptoms of vocal chord inflammation are coughing and hoarseness, sometimes even a complete failure of the voice. Defining for a chronic inflammation of the vocal cords is a duration of more than three weeks. Therefore, if hoarseness persists for more than three weeks, a chronic inflammation of the vocal cords can be assumed.

In contrast to the acute inflammation, the chronic form is significantly less painful. In addition, the coughing irritation in chronic vocal chord inflammation is usually triggered by a dry throat or by the sensation of a small foreign body. In chronic inflammation, the vocal chords are thickened over a longer period of time.

This can cause a compulsion to clear throat. While an acute inflammation of the vocal chords is usually triggered by infectious pathogens such as viruses and bacteria, chronic vocal chord inflammation is based on other mechanisms. Therefore, chronic inflammation does not cause additional symptoms such as fever or a runny nose.

Rather, symptoms that indicate reflux disease are indicative of chronic vocal cord inflammation. The backflow of acid gastric juice leads to burning pain behind the breastbone, which is usually most pronounced when lying down. If the stomach acid reaches the vocal chords, the mucous membrane there becomes irritated, which can lead to chronic vocal chord inflammation.

What are the typical symptoms in children?

Illnesses and symptoms in children are often more difficult to interpret than in adults. Small children in particular are not yet able to express themselves linguistically, so they are unable to communicate that they have a sore throat, for example. A first sign of vocal cord inflammation is therefore the increased crying of the children.

Especially when they are fed, affected children can become very restless. Since swallowing is often painful in the case of vocal chord inflammation, the children usually eat and drink less than usual. Older children will usually complain of sore throats.

One symptom that is particularly indicative of vocal cord inflammation is hoarseness. This hoarseness can, of course, also be detected in babies as soon as they cry out. Since vocal chord inflammation, especially in children, is usually accompanied by inflammation of the throat, it is worth taking a look inside the throat. If the throat is red, there is a certain probability that the vocal chords are also affected by the inflammation.