Symptoms and treatment of acute laryngotracheitis in adults

Laryngotracheitis is an inflammation that occurs in the larynx and upper trachea. Most often, inflammation is caused by an infectious disease and occurs simultaneously with an acute viral infection. Acute laryngotracheitis in adults may be accompanied by impaired breathing, dry annoying cough, symptoms of false croup. Often, the disease occurs against the background of lowered immunity or as a complication of a viral infection. In this case, laryngitis and tracheitis can occur as separate diseases, however, due to the anatomical structure, they most often proceed together and are characterized by similar clinical manifestations.

Causes

Laryngotracheitis is a common disease that most often occurs as a result of a respiratory viral infection, developing against the background of diseases such as influenza, parainfluenza. Also, acute laryngitis and tracheitis can be caused by exposure to the body of a bacterial infection (streptococcus, staphylococcus), herpes virus, chemical irritant, allergic reaction.

A number of factors can be distinguished, the action of which can provoke the onset and development of symptoms of laryngotracheitis:

polluted, highly dusty air;
loud, prolonged speech, loud screaming, singing;
smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages;
general hypothermia of the body.

All of the above factors have an irritating effect on the larynx region, contribute to the drying out of the pharyngeal mucosa, which interferes with the proper functioning of the body's protective functions.

The cause of laryngotracheitis is an inflammatory process that is localized in the trachea and larynx. The main function of the trachea is to conduct air, so swelling of its mucous membrane makes it difficult for oxygen to enter the lungs. When the larynx region is damaged, not only the passage of air becomes difficult, but the work of the vocal cords is also disrupted, breathing becomes noisy, and fluid accumulates in the perio-ligamentous tissue.

Important! Quite often, as complications with laryngotracheitis, false croup (severe laryngeal edema, which is dangerous with the risk of suffocation) can develop.

Disease classification

Depending on how often laryngotracheitis manifests itself and how many days it lasts, acute (in the first 7-10 days of the disease) and chronic stages of the disease are isolated.

The acute stage of laryngotracheitis is divided into:

primary (acute) process of infection development;
Recurrent (recurrent) disease that is not the first time accompanying a respiratory tract infection.

Laryngotracheitis, which arose for the first time, has several characteristic variants of the development of the disease:

inflammation that occurs in the absence of signs of an acute respiratory infection;
inflammation that occurs during an acute respiratory infection;
inflammation that has arisen gradually as a complication as a result of frequent colds.

Chronic laryngotracheitis can develop as a result of lack of therapy or untimely treatment of the acute stage of the disease. Most often, the development of a chronic form of the disease is facilitated by the characteristics of a person's professional activity (polluted air, inhalation of chemicals, loud speech).

Experts distinguish three forms of the development of the disease:

Catarrhal, which is characterized by redness and the development of edema of the mucous membrane in the trachea and vocal apparatus.
Atrophic, characterized by depletion of the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx, which significantly reduces local immunity and leads to the development of inflammatory processes. Increases the likelihood of atrophy smoking, working in dusty rooms, mines.
Hyperplastic, which is characterized by a partial or complete increase in some areas of the mucous membrane in the larynx or trachea, affecting the vocal apparatus and making breathing difficult.

Symptoms

The acute stage of laryngotracheitis, which appeared due to or simultaneously with a viral infection, is characterized by the following symptoms:

a sharp rise in temperature;
hoarseness, dryness, pain in the throat;
soreness in the chest area;
annoying, barking, dry cough resulting from severe spasm and swelling of the laryngeal mucosa;
coughing can increase pain in the pharynx and in the chest area;
the onset of a cough can be triggered by laughter, a strong breath, the symptom intensifies in a room with dry and polluted air;
it is possible to release a small amount of viscous secretion;
often the disease is accompanied by soreness and enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes;
dry wheezing is heard.

In the course of the development of the disease, the cough softens, becomes less painful, the sputum becomes thinner and easier to cough up.

If the disease is in a chronic stage, then the symptoms of laryngotracheitis will increase gradually. The most common signs of chronic infection are:

disturbances in the work of the vocal apparatus, the occurrence of severe hoarseness, hoarseness, which can lead to a complete loss of voice (aphonia);
persistent cough or frequent seizures provoked by strong inhalation, cold air, laughter, accompanied by a small amount of sputum coming off;
simultaneously with the cough, the patient may experience soreness and dryness in the pharynx and trachea;
fatigue of the vocal apparatus rapidly develops during singing, long conversation.

Often the symptoms of chronic laryngotracheitis are manifested by hormonal changes occurring in the body of women, as a result of severe hypothermia, strong emotional overexcitation, stress, overload of the vocal apparatus.

Diagnostics

To prescribe the correct and effective treatment in order to prevent the development of complications and the transition of the disease into a chronic form, it is necessary to make the correct diagnosis. With laryngotracheitis, in addition to analyzing the patient's complaints about hoarseness, dry cough and pain in the chest region, the doctor may need additional diagnostic procedures:

clinical analysis of blood and urine to analyze the severity of the inflammatory process;
bacterial culture of sputum to identify the causative agent of the infection;
serological tests for the presence of antibodies and antigens in the blood serum to viral pathogens of respiratory infections;
examination of the vocal apparatus and larynx using procedures such as macrolaryngoscopy and tracheoscopy;
radiography and computed tomography of the area of inflammation localization.

If chronic laryngotracheitis is suspected, laryngoscopy and a small sample of tissue for biopsy are advisable. This procedure will help eliminate the presence of cancer cells. A chest X-ray may be required to exclude the presence of bronchitis and pneumonia in the patient.

Treatment

The treatment of both acute and chronic stages of laryngotracheitis in adults is carried out by a therapist and otolaryngologist. Most often, treatment has a positive prognosis and is carried out under the supervision of a doctor, without requiring hospitalization.

With laryngotracheitis, symptomatic treatment is carried out aimed at reducing the severity of the main symptoms of the disease, as well as therapy aimed at combating the infection that caused the disease.

For any form of laryngotracheitis, an abundant warm drink is indicated: compotes, fruit drinks, teas, decoctions of medicinal herbs (chamomile, rose hips, sage, calendula), breast fees.Carbonated drinks, alcohol, very hot and cold liquids should be excluded.
Ventilation of the room, cool (not higher than 20 degrees) and humidified (humidity not less than 50%) air also help to alleviate dry cough attacks and increase its productivity.
With a significant increase in body temperature (above 38 degrees), it is advisable to use antipyretic drugs, for example, Ibuprofen or Paracetomol.

Important! With a slight increase in temperature (up to 38 degrees) and its normal tolerance, the use of antipyretic drugs is not advisable, since hyperthermia is a protective function of the body and one of the ways to resist viruses.

If laryngotracheitis is caused by a viral infection, then at the beginning the use of antiviral drugs (Groprinosin, Amizon) is indicated.
If the temperature does not return to normal on the fifth day of the illness, blood should be donated for the presence of a bacterial infection, the treatment of which is carried out using antibiotics of the penicillin series, macrolide groups, cephalosporins (Augmentin, Sumamed).
Steam inhalation helps to moisturize the laryngeal mucous membranes, relieving symptoms of the disease. If you are not allergic, you can use aromatic oils such as eucalyptus or tea tree.
Inhalation with a nebulizer using ordinary saline solution also moisturizes the mucous membrane well, promotes better sputum discharge.
Also, expectorant and mucolytic agents (Ambroxol, ACC, Erespal, Mukolvan for inhalation) are used to thin the viscous secretion and remove it.
With severe swelling of the mucous membrane in the pharynx, it is possible to use antiallergic drugs (Suprastin, Zodak, Loratadin), as well as inhalation using the drug Pulmicort, which has an anti-allergic and decongestant effect.
Such medical procedures as massage, electrophoresis with the use of drugs, laser exposure to the throat area are also indicated in the complex therapy of laryngotracheitis.