Laryngeal edema is rarely an independent disease. More often, this symptomatology is a complication or manifestation of other pathological conditions. Therefore, the symptoms of laryngeal edema depend on the underlying cause.
This is a rapidly developing process, manifested by edema and, as a result, narrowing of the lumen of the larynx. Symptoms of laryngeal edema can develop with lightning speed, acutely or gradually, which is reflected in the clinical picture and largely determines the treatment tactics.
Acute inflammatory processes
It is important to determine the cause of the development of laryngeal edema, since the treatment tactics depend on it. Most often, this condition is a manifestation or complication of such pathological conditions:
- inflammatory diseases of the throat;
- acute infectious diseases;
- infections caused by a specific pathogen;
- allergies;
- traumatic injury to the throat;
- pathological processes of a non-inflammatory nature.
Acute laryngitis, laryngotracheitis is characterized by the following manifestations:
- sore throat;
- perspiration;
- sensation of a foreign body in the throat;
- dry cough;
- hoarseness of the voice;
- development of hyperthermia.
Instrumental diagnostics reveals swelling and hyperemia of the mucous membrane of the larynx, vocal cords and cartilage. Edema appears as a watery or gelatinous swelling. At the same time, the glottis is sharply narrowed. With increasing symptoms and worsening of the condition, the swelling may worsen, increasing the stenosis of the larynx
Laryngoscopy is performed with great care as it can worsen the stenosis.
Signs of respiratory failure are due to the degree of narrowing of the respiratory gap. In the development of this pathological process, symptoms come to the fore, due to the difficulty in passing air through the respiratory tract. This condition is dangerous and requires urgent measures.
Clinical symptoms
Most often, the edematous form of laryngitis has a fulminant course, developing within a few hours.
A typical symptom of laryngeal edema is choking.
It is difficult for the patient to inhale and then exhale. Attention is drawn to pronounced shortness of breath, wheezing rales heard at a distance. In the process of breathing, auxiliary muscles take part, which is manifested by the retraction of the epigastric and supraclavicular regions, intercostal spaces. If proper measures are not taken at this stage, the patient may die from a lack of oxygen.
This development of the situation for inflammatory processes of the larynx is an extremely rare occurrence. Most often, acute laryngitis is characterized by a mild course. The most common symptoms are sore throat, dry cough, and voice changes.
Throat edema caused by acute laryngitis develops acutely, within a few hours after the onset of the disease, which makes it possible to differentiate it from syphilitic and tuberculous lesions. These diseases, caused by specific pathogens, are characterized by a slow increase in symptoms. In this regard, the patient's condition remains satisfactory for a long time. The body adapts to functioning in conditions of a narrowing respiratory gap and insufficient oxygen supply. Laryngeal edema in this case can develop over several days.
Acute infectious diseases
Acute infectious processes are often manifested by the development of this serious condition. First of all, this pathology is characteristic of diphtheria. The defeat of the larynx with a diphtheria bacillus in its development goes through several stages. At the onset of the disease, a mandatory symptom is dysphonia, that is, the appearance of a rough, hoarse voice, as well as a strong barking cough.
In the future, there is an increase in signs that indicate laryngeal edema and stenosis of the respiratory gap. The patient is restless. His breathing becomes noisy. There is a lengthening of inspiration and the participation of auxiliary muscles in the breathing process. In order to prevent the transition to the next, asphyxial, stage, at this stage, tracheal intubation is shown.
Laryngoscopy helps to clarify the diagnosis, detecting not only hyperemia and swelling of the larynx, but also a characteristic fibrinous film. Since similar symptoms can also develop with measles, scarlet fever, influenza, then a reliable diagnostic method is the isolation of the pathogen from the lesion focus. Serodiagnostics, including PCR, can be used to confirm the diagnosis.
For the diagnosis of throat edema caused by other acute infectious diseases, additional signs are of great importance. Influenza is characterized by an acute onset of the disease, catarrhal symptoms. An important diagnostic sign is severe malaise, weakness, lack of appetite, aching muscles and joints, and an increase in body temperature up to 39 degrees. A characteristic skin rash is typical for childhood infections. The epidemiological situation also plays an important role in the diagnosis.
Abscess
Symptoms of throat edema are also characteristic of the development of an abscess located within this organ. An acute purulent process can develop as a complication of ARVI, measles, scarlet fever, or as a result of mechanical damage to the mucous membrane with further infection. The development of an abscess of the larynx is also possible if the rules of asepsis and antisepsis are not followed during instrumental examination or surgical intervention. Such a complication is noted when the patient attempts to open up abscesses on his own with angina or herpetic lesions of the oral cavity.
The disease is characterized by a worsening of the patient's condition, an increase in sore throat. There is an increase in body temperature up to 40 degrees. The defeat is most often asymmetrical.
An objective examination of the throat cavity reveals a tumor-like formation that narrows the lumen of the larynx. An obligatory symptom is an increase and soreness of regional lymph nodes.
The patient's complaint is characteristic of the inability to open his mouth and swallow saliva. In this case, the patient's head is usually tilted towards the lesion. Reduced immunity, hypothermia, and the presence of concomitant oncopathology contribute to the occurrence of abscesses in various parts of the throat.
Allergy
A severe course is characterized by laryngeal edema due to the development of allergies. Hazardous substances can enter the body through inhalation of plant pollen, chemical compounds, strong smelling substances. The same effect can be exerted by medications, both topical and parenteral. Food allergy is widespread.
This pathological condition can be characterized by various symptoms:
- congestion and profuse mucous discharge from the nose;
- sore throat;
- dry cough;
- lacrimation;
- bronchospasm;
- diarrhea;
- skin rashes.
Quincke's edema is a severe form of allergy. In this case, the patient's appearance is characteristic. There is swelling of the eyelids, lips, or the entire face, neck. The skin is first characterized by cyanosis, then a sharp pallor. Cerebral edema often develops, the patient loses consciousness.
Allergic damage to the throat with Quincke's edema is dangerous for its lightning-fast course, when severe symptoms develop within a few minutes. In the absence of timely assistance, the patient may die from asphyxia and cerebral edema.
Trauma
Acute development of edema is characterized by traumatic damage to the larynx. Mechanical injury can be caused by rough food, bone fragments. Within a short time, such exposure can lead to the development of spasm and swelling of the larynx. Even if a foreign body can be removed quickly, there is a likelihood of developing swelling at the site of the lesion after a while. Traumatic injury in this case will lead to the development of the inflammatory process.
Chemical compounds can be an irritating factor. Accidental or deliberate use of alcohol-containing solutions, acids, vinegar leads to the development of swelling of the larynx. Depending on the substance used, the process can develop sharply or gradually. In people who abuse alcohol, symptoms usually develop slowly, and the larynx is chronic. With the accidental use of more aggressive and dangerous agents, an acute development of the situation is characteristic when urgent medical measures are required.
The development of edema can be based not only on inflammatory processes. A significant proportion is due to laryngeal edema, caused by hormonal disruption in the body, impaired permeability of the vascular wall of small capillaries, as well as a shift in the water-electrolyte balance.
A distinctive feature in this case is the absence of signs of inflammation of the laryngeal mucosa, pain, hyperemia.
In addition, such puffiness is not localized, but widespread, affecting other organs. A distinctive feature is also the fact that non-inflammatory edema is characterized by slow development.
Diseases characterized by laryngeal edema can be
- pathology of the thyroid gland;
- kidney damage;
- cardiovascular disorders;
- tumor processes.
In these cases, the most typical symptoms are a feeling of difficulty swallowing or a foreign body in the throat, a feeling of fullness. The spread of the process to the entire larynx leads to the appearance of hoarseness, difficulty breathing.
Close attention to this pathological condition is due to the fact that untimely assistance can be fatal.
Often, the only possible method of providing emergency care to a patient is tracheotomy, that is, surgical intervention to provide oxygen to the lungs.
In the case of a slow increase in symptoms, it is necessary to be wary of the possible outcome of the disease.
