![]() If an antibiotic is prescribed, it is important to finish the entire prescription as directed to guarantee success and avoid complications. If a sore throat continues for more than several days, a doctor should be consulted. Treatment for viral pharyngitis is similar to that for viral laryngitis: Saltwater gargles, lozenges, fluids, and increased humidity in the home are recommended. Since the cause of pharyngitis cannot be determined by simply looking at the throat, a quick screening test or a culture can be taken to look for streptococcus or mononucleosis. The diagnosis of pharyngitis is made during a thorough physical exam which focuses on the throat and lymph nodes. Children and teenagers are most often affected by sore throats. ![]() The most common bacterial cause of pharyngitis is group A streptococcus, or strep throat. There are several bacterial causes of sore throat, and if left untreated, bacterial pharyngitis can lead to complications. About 90% of these cases are caused by such viruses as the cold or flu or Epstein-Barr, the cause of mononucleosis. Pharyngitis, or sore throat, accounts for over 18 million visits to the doctor each year in this country. If a young child has a fever and laryngitis with difficulty breathing and is drooling, a doctor should be consulted immediately. If the laryngitis is due to a bacterial infection, it should be treated with antibiotic therapy. It is best not to whisper or clear the throat continually, since these actions actually strain the vocal cords. Keeping the throat moist and the air humidified can be helpful. A specialist of the ear, nose, and throat can perform tests on the vocal cords to determine the cause of the hoarseness and the appropriate treatment.įor most cases of laryngitis, treatment consists of resting the voice box (not talking). Hoarseness can also be a result of growths or other abnormalities of the vocal cords. If laryngitis is not due to an infection, it is most often a result of injuring the vocal cords through overuse, smoking, or stomach acid reflux. If laryngitis is a chronic problem, the doctor will investigate the possible causes for the swelling and inflammation. Epiglottitis is a relatively rare, but life-threatening, complication of a bacterial infection that causes the airways to close due to rapid swelling of the larynx and surrounding tissues. Croup can follow a cold and results in a barking cough and difficulty breathing at night. In young children, two possibly severe causes of laryngitis are croup and epiglottitis. In some mild infections, the only symptom is hoarseness. The symptoms of hoarseness or loss of voice develop over a short period and may be accompanied by swollen neck glands, sore throat, or fever. People at greatest risk for developing laryngitis are those with an upper respiratory infection. ![]() In most cases, laryngitis is due to an infection from a virus, or less often, bacteria. Laryngitis can result from overuse of the voice, irritation from allergies or other environmental irritants, stomach acid reflux, or a viral or bacterial infection. What Causes Loss of Voice and Sore Throat Laryngitis Sore throats due to a virus can be soothed with saltwater gargles, lozenges, fluids, and increased humidity in the air. Streptococcal pharyngitis should be diagnosed and treated quickly to avoid long-term and serious complications, such as rheumatic fever or kidney failure. If a sore throat persists for more than several days, a doctor should be consulted to find out if it has a treatable cause. Nearly all sore throats that begin abruptly are caused by a virus and will disappear on their own without treatment. ![]() A common cause of bacterial sore throat is group A Streptococcus, or strep throat. Pharyngitis also can be viral or bacterial. Chronic hoarseness (lasting longer than two weeks) should be followed up by a doctor’s visit to determine the cause and begin treatment. In most cases, laryngitis is not a serious condition, but it can be a nuisance. Laryngitis that develops over a short period of time is typically caused by a viral infection, but it can be part of a bacterial infection. ![]() When the larynx and vocal cords are swollen and inflamed, the result is usually hoarseness or loss of voice. The larynx, or area of cartilage and tissue located at the entrance to the trachea, contains the vocal cords. Two common conditions of the upper respiratory tract include laryngitis, an inflammation of the larynx (voice box), and pharyngitis, an inflammation of the pharynx (throat). Inflammations in the Upper Respiratory Tract ![]()
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