Laryngitis is an infection or inflammation of the larynx (voice box). It is a common throat condition generally associated with a sore throat, hoarseness or loss of voice, and frequently occurs in children over the age of three and young adults.
What causes Laryngitis?
The voice box contains the vocal cords and is located at the top of the airway to the lungs. When the vocal cords become inflamed or infected by a virus they swell, which in turn can cause hoarseness. Occasionally it can also cause obstruction of the airway. Laryngitis often occurs during an upper respiratory infection and is a condition that usually goes away by itself. It is not normally associated with any breathing difficulties.
Most cases of laryngitis are caused by viruses and result in hoarseness. They are often linked to a common cold, bronchitis, flu, pneumonia or a bacterial infection. Laryngitis can also be caused by a simple irritation to the voice box when, for example, the child shouts, sings or talks too loudly for too long.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms usually include:
- Sore throat
- Hoarse voice
- Fever
- Upper respiratory infection
- Swollen neck glands
In infants and younger children laryngitis sometimes further narrows an already small airway, which can result in breathing difficulties. Signs of a narrowed airway would include:
- A wheezing or grunting sound each time the child breath
- Retracting chest muscles during inhalation
- Problems with inspiration
- Poor sleeping pattern
- Pale skin
Diagnosis and treatment
As most common forms of laryngitis are due to viruses, antibiotic treatment is not generally recommended. A child who is not presenting with a fever, chills or any signs of serious breathing difficulties can usually be treated at home.
Plenty of liquids should be given to the child to ease his/her throat and the voice should be encouraged to rest.
When should I call a doctor?
Sometimes acute laryngitis can be serious. Please call a doctor if the child's symptoms last longer than a week or if he or she:
- Is experiencing difficulties with breathing and swallowing
- Has a high fever and sore throat
- Has the chills
- Is vomiting or has trouble swallowing food
- Is unable to consume liquids
- Is coughing up blood or yellow/green phlegm
- Has a hoarse voice lasting more then a week
If the child is drooling more than usual, has a whistling noise in his or her throat and is experiencing breathing problems, parents should also seek medical advice.
Preventative measures
Children are more susceptible to upper respiratory infections during the cold winter months when colds and flu are rife. As laryngitis is a viral infection there is no obvious way of prevention. However, adopting good hygienic measures can help prevent the spread of infection such as:
- Hand washing before and after eating and using the toilet
- Avoiding people with infectious respiratory illnesses
- Avoiding crowded environments where infection can easily spread
Can laryngitis cause croup in young children?
Yes. Croup is an acute form of laryngitis when the virus spreads to the windpipe and larger breathing passages. It can have dramatic effects on babies or small children simply because their breathing tubes are so small. The inflammation of the larynx can cause enough swelling to obstruct the passage of air through it. So instead of laryngitis the child has croup, which leaves him/her breathing with a rasping noise.
In more severe cases the child may wake up in the middle of the night with a painful hacking cough, followed by strange barking noise as the breath is drawn inwards.
What to do if this happens
You will need to call a doctor immediately. In the meantime, while you are waiting try following these emergency steps:
- Try and keep the child calm and quiet. The less he/she struggles and cries the less oxygen he/she will use up
- Carry the child to the window and encourage him/her to take up to six breaths of fresh night air
- Then carry the child to the bathroom, close the window and turn on every hot tap to allow the room to fill with steam. Stay in the steam-filled room for ten minutes.
These actions should help your child until a doctor arrives. Or if you can't get hold of a doctor ring for an ambulance or take the child by car to your nearest accident and emergency department.
Written and Researched by Marcella McEvoy. Reproduced by kind permission of Nursery World magazine. Call 01454 642 480 to find out about subscription.