The voice-forming function is of great value, since it allows you to quickly exchange information, establish contacts with people around you. The voice is a working tool of many people - especially if they are engaged in the field of art, teaching. Loss of voice in combination with the appearance of a sore throat is often associated with an inflammatory process localized in the anatomical boundaries of the larynx - laryngitis. Complaints that the voice has disappeared and the throat hurts, doctors hear throughout the year - however, most often cases of laryngitis are recorded in the autumn-winter period, the so-called "cold season". The causes of the development of the disease are not always explained by infection, which requires differential diagnosis and selection of individual therapy.
Infectious causes
Sore throat as a symptom can speak of numerous diseases, but the combination with hoarseness narrows the range of diagnostic search. However, even in this case, on the basis of the named symptoms, several pathologies can be assumed. If a patient has a sore throat and a lost voice, the likelihood of having diseases such as:
- Acute laryngitis.
- Laryngeal diphtheria.
- Laryngeal abscess.
- Laryngeal angina.
- Laryngeal tuberculosis.
Acute catarrhal laryngitis can occur in acute respiratory infections and be combined with acute rhinitis, pharyngitis. You can get sick with laryngitis after hypothermia - in this case, the pathogenic flora present on the mucous membrane of the larynx is activated.
A sick person complains of hoarseness, dry throat and pain when swallowing - as a rule, these symptoms appear suddenly. The presence of dry or wet cough is also characteristic. The body temperature can remain normal or subfebrile, although with flu and other acute respiratory viral infections it rises to high numbers. Hoarseness is low or high pitched; changes are possible up to aphonia (loss of voice).
With diphtheria of the larynx, sore throat is most often moderately expressed, at the beginning of the disease there are symptoms classic for acute laryngitis - cough, hoarseness, subfebrile fever. The voice begins to fade after 1–2 days. At the same time, the cough becomes hoarse, soundless, respiratory dysfunctions occur, and stenosis (narrowing of the lumen) of the larynx develops.
A laryngeal abscess usually occurs after trauma from a foreign body (eg, fish bone). First, there is pain when swallowing, fever; after 2-3 days, the patient notes that his voice is hoarse.
Laryngeal angina most often has a bacterial nature, is provoked by streptococci, staphylococci, occurs after hypothermia, mucosal injury, accompanied by other inflammatory diseases of nearby organs. The lymphoid tissue of the larynx is affected. The patient is worried about a severe sore throat, it is difficult for him to turn his head, his voice can become significantly hoarse.
Laryngeal tuberculosis occurs against the background of pulmonary tuberculosis and is relatively rare. A patient who does not receive treatment can face this disease - infection usually occurs when sputum released during coughing comes into contact with the larynx mucosa. Sore throat is common, but not required, as is voice disturbance. The clinical picture depends on the anatomical localization of the tuberculous infiltrate in the larynx.
Non-infectious causes
It is worth noting that sore throat and loss of voice appear not only with infectious lesions. A gradual change in the function of voice formation is characteristic of neoplasms in the larynx region:
- fibroma;
- papilloma;
- angioma, etc.
With a large tumor and the progression of the pathological process, respiratory disturbances also join, complaints of pain when swallowing appear, sometimes at rest. Pain syndrome is less typical for benign tumors, the displacement of which, in some variants of anatomical location, can affect the severity of voice loss.
In addition to the infectious causes of laryngitis, etiological factors are:
- mucosal injury;
- excessive voice load;
- the influence of occupational hazards.
Occupational hazards include substances that patients come into contact with in the workplace. In the case of laryngitis, as a rule, an aerogenic route of entry into the body is initiated - inhalation of vapors, gases or dust particles. Patients note a hoarse voice as one of the leading symptoms.
The voice may hoarse in people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
The release of aggressive gastric contents causes the development of not only esophagitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the esophagus), but also various ENT pathologies - in particular, laryngitis. The phenomenon of the so-called pharyngolaryngeal reflux is accompanied by typical ENT complaints - in particular, that the voice has sat down, and there is a tickling sensation and pain in the throat.
Algorithm of actions
How to quickly get a lost voice back? The approach to treatment differs depending on the type of pathology, however, you can list the main measures taken when hoarseness appears:
- Evaluation of the possibility of using etiotropic therapy.
- Conducting local therapy.
- Bed rest for fever.
- Plentiful warm drink.
- Compliance with vocal rest.
- Diet, smoking cessation, alcohol.
- Correction of indicators of the microclimate of the room.
How should a patient be treated? In the case of acute laryngitis, local therapy is used; in case of fever, systemic antibiotics are indicated. The voice can be quickly restored with a combination of voice rest and drug exposure. The appearance of complaints about a change in voice in the presence of a sore throat is an indication for contacting an otolaryngologist (ENT doctor), as well as a general practitioner. After questioning and examination, the patient can also be referred to specialists of a different profile.
Patients with diphtheria are immediately hospitalized in isolated wards of an infectious diseases hospital. If the causes of hoarseness and pain are associated with GERD, you need an examination by a gastroenterologist, treatment of the underlying disease. With professional laryngitis, first of all, contact with a harmful factor is excluded, in the case of neoplasms and an abscess of the larynx, surgical intervention, pharmacotherapy is necessary.
The restoration of the voice is impossible without the creation of gentle conditions, therefore, a mode of constant silence is introduced. Voice peace is necessary for all diseases accompanied by impaired voice function - especially in acute laryngitis. A seated voice should not be strained, this will worsen the condition.
It is forbidden to use not only loud speech, but also a whisper.
Representatives of professions whose work process requires the use of speech are exempted from performing professional duties for the period of illness. Patients should not eat spicy, too cold or hot food. Alcohol and smoking are also prohibited, since alcohol and tobacco smoke are irritating and interfere with the restoration of voice function.
Room temperature indicators are set in the range from 19 to 22 ° C, and humidity indicators - from 50 to 70%. It is advisable to regularly carry out wet cleaning to remove dust - while the patient should be in another room.
Etiotropic therapy
Treatment is called etiotropic, the purpose of which is to influence the etiological, that is, the causal factor. These are antiviral, antibacterial and other types of drug therapy, the appropriateness of which can only be determined by the attending physician. With a viral infection, antibiotics are not needed, since they are not able to affect the pathogen.
What to do when your throat hurts, your voice is gone? If this happened as a result of an infectious disease, such options for etiotropic therapy as:
- the use of broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs;
- the use of anti-diphtheria antitoxic serum;
- the use of anti-tuberculosis drugs.
Antibiotics are indicated for all infectious diseases listed in the previous sections. The exception is acute respiratory viral infections, which proceed without microbial complications - only a doctor performs differential diagnostics. In acute laryngitis, antibacterial drugs are usually administered by inhalation. Fusafungin (Bioparox), Penicillin, Streptomycin are used. In some cases, systemic use of antibiotics in tablet or injectable form may be required.
Treatment of diphtheria is ineffective without the use of specific anti-diphtheria serum.
As part of etiotropic therapy, the antibiotic Benzylpenicillin is also used, for allergy to penicillins - Sumamed, Tetracycline.
With an abscess of the larynx and laryngeal angina, antibacterial drugs (Amoxiclav, Cefotaxime, etc.) are used in conjunction with surgical intervention. With some types of laryngeal sore throat, you can do only with drug therapy.
In the case of tuberculosis of the larynx, it is necessary to influence the main process in the lungs. Streptomycin, Rifampicin, Ethambutol, Pyrazinamide are used - these drugs should be used in combinations prescribed by the doctor. Treatment is long-term, it requires scrupulous adherence to the doctor's recommendations to prevent the formation of resistance (resistance of mycobacteria) and achieve a successful result.
Local therapy
Local therapy, which can be partially carried out at home, is acceptable in the case of acute laryngitis - it is not difficult to cure it with the right approach. The priority is the inhalation route of drug administration. Appointed:
- Bioparox for 5 or 7 days in the form of an aerosol.
- Inhalation with antibacterial drugs and glucocorticosteroids (hydrocortisone).
- Infusion into the larynx of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Steam inhalation.
- Semi-alcohol compresses on the neck area.
The infusion of drugs into the larynx is performed only by a doctor in a medical institution. This method requires certain qualifications and is not intended for independent use at home.
Steam inhalation and other procedures that increase the volume of mucus due to its swelling are not performed for children of the younger age group due to the risk of respiratory disorders. Any therapeutic measures involving heat exposure are performed only if there is confidence in the absence of a purulent process.
What if your throat hurts and your voice disappears? With laryngitis occurring against the background of ARVI, as well as in the case of laryngeal sore throat, local treatment includes:
- gargle with chamomile infusion, tincture
calendula; - resorption of tablets (Strepsils, Decatilen);
- irrigation of the mucous membrane of the oropharynx with sprays (Orasept).
calendula;Distracting procedures (hot foot baths, mustard plasters on the calf) can also be helpful - but remember that they are not allowed for patients with fever.
It is important to understand that the voice in patients can sit down for various reasons, and the therapy is selected individually. For example, in the case of acute laryngitis in the absence of fever, there is usually no need for systemic antibiotics - but at the same time they are indicated if the patient's condition is serious. The doctor should prescribe treatment after examining the patient and assessing the complaints.
