Introduction
The inflammation of the vocal cords is due to various factors and therefore manifests itself through different symptoms. A distinction is made between acute and chronic vocal cord inflammation. The chronic form is defined as a persistence of symptoms for more than three weeks. While coughing, difficulty swallowing and sore throat are the main symptoms of acute vocal cord inflammation, chronic inflammation is more likely to manifest itself as a dry throat, a feeling of a foreign body and a compulsion to clear one’s throat.
These are the typical symptoms of vocal cord inflammation
Symptoms of acute vocal cord inflammation: Symptoms of chronic vocal cord inflammation:
- Sore throat
- Laryngeal pain
- Scratching in the neck
- Irritation and/or painful cough
- Swallowing difficulties
- Hoarseness rough, scratchy voice no voice
- Rough, scratchy voice
- No voice
- Mucus
- Salivation
- Rough, scratchy voice
- No voice
- Permanent hoarseness for more than three weeks
- Nodules on the vocal cords
- Coughing compulsion
- Less sore throat than with the acute form
- Dry neck
- Foreign body sensation in the neck
The vocal cords are two very fine muscle layers that are located in the larynx and are used for vocalization. Normally, they are able to vibrate freely. When the vocal chords become inflamed, their structure changes, which limits their ability to vibrate.
Otherwise normal sounds suddenly sound rougher and more scratchy. Depending on the severity of the inflammation, the ability of the vocal chords to vibrate can be impaired in such a way that affected persons can no longer get any sound out. They can often only whisper for a few days.
Continued overstimulation of the vocal chords can lead to chronic changes, resulting in chronic hoarseness. If overexerted for too long, small nodules can also develop on the vocal chords. These prevent the vocal chords from vibrating normally and contribute to chronic hoarseness.
An inflammation of the vocal cords often leads to sore throat in addition. In most cases the pain occurs even before the actual inflammation of the vocal chords. The sore throat is usually caused by infections of the upper respiratory tract.
In this case, viruses or bacteria settle in the throat area. This causes the mucous membranes to become inflamed, resulting in sore throats. The inflammation usually starts in the throat, but can extend to the vocal chords.
A sign that the vocal chords are also inflamed is pain when swallowing. An inflammation of the vocal cords is usually accompanied by larynx pain. Usually the trigger is a viral or bacterial infection.
If this travels through the throat to the vocal chords, the entire larynx is usually affected. This leads to complaints in this area, especially when swallowing and speaking. However, inflammation of the vocal chords can also be caused by chronic reflux (belching of stomach acid).
In this case, there is a strong irritation of the throat in addition to the larynx pain. This occurs increasingly at night, because the reflux is stronger when lying down. Compulsive coughing is a sign of a chronic inflammation of the vocal chords and/or larynx.
Usually, symptoms such as hoarseness that persists for more than three weeks and a feeling of dryness in the throat are added. In contrast to acute vocal chord inflammation, there is often no or only slight sore throat. The inflammation changes the structure of the vocal cords.
This can cause a feeling as if a foreign body (for example a crumb) is in the larynx. The normal reflex of the body is to “clear out” this foreign body. In the case of inflammation of the vocal chords, a feeling of dryness in the throat often occurs as well.
This causes the body to produce more saliva. The inflammation of the vocal chords also changes their surface. This can cause a feeling as if a small foreign body (for example, a crumb) is sitting in the throat.
This can also trigger increased salivation. The increased saliva production also has a health effect: the body’s own defense cells are in the saliva. These are needed to fight bacteria or viruses that cause inflammation of the vocal cords.
Thus, increased secretion of defence cells also leads to increased salivary flow. An inflammation of the vocal chords often also causes swallowing difficulties. The reason for this is usually an extensive inflammation of the throat.Especially when germs such as viruses and bacteria are the triggers of the inflammation, the throat and larynx are usually also affected.
The inflammation leads to irritation of the mucous membranes in the vocal chords, throat and larynx. This makes them much more sensitive than usual to mechanical stimuli. When swallowed, food or liquid is transported along the inflamed mucous membrane.
Due to the increased sensitivity, even such a touch can lead to pain. But it is not only the contact with what is swallowed that irritates the mucous membranes. The “act of swallowing” itself can also cause pain.
The larynx is moved with every swallow. This movement alone causes an additional irritation of the inflamed nerve endings and thus triggers a painful stimulus. Since the larynx in particular is moved when swallowing, an inflammation of the vocal chords including the larynx usually leads to greater difficulty in swallowing than an inflammation of the throat or throat alone.
In vocal cord inflammation, bacteria and/or viruses are often involved in the development of the inflammation. The respiratory tract can also be affected. In order to get rid of the germs better and to protect itself from them, the body has a simple defence mechanism: it wraps the germs in mucus.
This makes it harder for the dangerous bacteria and viruses to attach themselves to the mucous membrane. In addition, the germs are easier to cough up. An inflammation of the vocal cords indicates that the pathogens have not only settled in the throat but also somewhat deeper in the throat. Therefore, the body uses all its defense mechanisms to protect itself from further spread of the germs. Which home remedies can help with vocal cord inflammation?
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