Laryngitis in children, symptoms, causes and treatment

Laryngitis in children

La laryngitis occurs when the larynx or vocal cords become irritated or swollen and is inflammation caused by viruses or bacteria. It usually goes away on its own within a couple of weeks, but if it appears in children it can worry parents. Let's see how it manifests itself and how we can prevent and treat it laryngitis in children.

In this article

• Causes of laryngitis
• Symptoms
• Laryngitis in children: natural remedies
• Cure for laryngitis
• How to prevent laryngitis in children
• Is laryngitis in children contagious?
• Laryngospasm in children

Causes of laryngitis

Laryngitis can be caused by a number of factors, including:

• Acid reflux
• Allergy
• Bacterial infection
• Bronchitis
• Cold
• Inflamed epiglottitis
• Exposure to chemicals or allergens
• Sinus infections
• Smoke
• Burning throat
• Viral infections
• Excessive use of the voice and commitment of the vocal cords

Symptoms

Laryngitis usually manifests itself with:

• O gracchiant hoarse voice;
• irritating and dry cough;
• sore throat.

Children can also have the temperature, be inappetent, have little desire to eat and drink and have some difficulty breathing (although it is rarer).

Laryngitis usually occurs suddenly and gets worse in the first two to three days and can be linked to other illnesses, such as a cold or the flu.

Laryngitis in children: natural remedies

Laryngitis usually goes away on its own after a couple of weeks and requires no special treatment. Between natural remedies that we can implement there are:

• drink enough water and fluids;
• keep the environment ventilated and with a good level of humidity so as not to contribute to further drying the upper respiratory tract and the throat, with a worsening of the irritating cough;
• a teaspoon of honey in a glass of tepid milk relieves burning pain and pain in the throat;
• do not strain the vocal cords.

Laryngitis in children and Tachipirina

Paracetamol, but also ibuprofen, can help relieve symptoms related to laryngitis: but a natural syrup based on honey and other substances, or throat lozenges, can also be effective.

Cure for laryngitis

Treatment for laryngitis usually consists of therapy with aerosol with cortisone, but the therapy must always be established by the pediatrician based on the seriousness of the situation. The pediatrician will also evaluate the cause of the inflammation, whether natural viral or bacterial, and establish the most effective treatment.

In rare cases, when there is severe respiratory distress, hospitalization may be required where it will proceed with adrenaline by aerosol and with observation and monitoring of symptoms.

How to prevent laryngitis in children

One of the best ways to prevent laryngitis is to keep the nasal cavity clean with regular saline washes. This operation cleans the nasal mucosa, moistens it, amplifying its filtering capacity against external agents.

Also read: When to take your baby to the emergency room

Is laryngitis in children contagious?

Laryngitis can be contagious if it is caused by un viral infection, which then can be passed on.

Laryngospasm in children

Il laryngospasm (Crup) is an involuntary spastic contraction of inflamed laryngeal muscles, it can occur mainly in children up to 6 years old, who have still small upper respiratory tracts: it manifests itself suddenly, without any previous symptoms, mostly at night, with a barking cough with a metallic stamp which can worry and impress parents a lot.

In most cases, these are mild and transient forms: generally the laryngospasm passes completely after a short time and a short aerosol therapy is enough. At the first episode, however, it is important to have the child checked by the pediatrician.

The most important thing to do, if the child suddenly wakes up in the night with this unmistakable cough similar to the cry of a seal, is to remain calm: anxiety and agitation make the situation considerably worse, and to raise the child, help him breathe, reassure him, possibly - if the pediatrician has given us indications on this - proceed with cortisone via aerosol. In most cases a crisis from laryngospasm lasts about 60 seconds.

References

• NHS
• Infant Jesus Hospital

TAG:

• laryngitis
• sore throat
• cough