$Unique_ID{PAR00115}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Medical Advice:  Laryngitis}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Chasnoff, Ira J}
$Subject{Laryngitis Hoarseness Dry hacking cough Scratchy throat fever
vaporizer vaporizers acetaminophen nonprescription expectorant expectorants
talk talks talking speak speaks speaking difficulties breathing difficulty
epiglottis inflammation inflamed larynx voice box respiratory virus viruses
viral infections croup infection humidifier humidifiers chest x-ray x-rays
hoarse}
$Log{}

Your Child:  A Medical Guide


Laryngitis


     Quick Reference

     SYMPTOMS
     - Hoarseness
     - Dry, hacking cough
     - Scratchy throat
     - Low-grade fever

     HOME CARE
     - Use a vaporizer in the child's room.
     - Give the child warm drinks.
     - Give acetaminophen to reduce fever and relieve pain.
     - A nonprescription expectorant cough remedy may relieve a troublesome
       cough.
     - A child with laryngitis should be discouraged from talking.

     PRECAUTIONS
     - If laryngitis is accompanied by breathing difficulty, the child should
       see a doctor.
     - If laryngitis is accompanied by breathing difficulty and a climbing
       fever, the child may have an inflammation of the epiglottis.  This is a
       medical emergency; take the child to a doctor at once.
     - If laryngitis persists, the doctor may recommend that the child see an
       ear, nose, and throat specialist.


     Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx (voice box), which is almost
always due to a respiratory virus.  It is closely related to croup, but unlike
croup, it is not associated with breathing difficulties.  Laryngitis may last
from a day to a couple of weeks.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

     Hoarseness; a dry, hacking cough; and a scratchy throat--but not
breathing difficulty--are the signs of laryngitis.  There is sometimes a
low-grade (101 degrees_F) fever.

HOME CARE

     Give your child warm drinks.  Discourage the child from talking.  Give
acetaminophen for fever or pain and a nonprescription expectorant cough remedy
for temporary relief of the cough.
     A humidifier or vaporizer may make breathing easier.  Be sure to keep it
meticulously clean, however.  Otherwise, it can actually become a source of
infection if microorganisms are allowed to grow in it.

PRECAUTIONS

  -  If any breathing difficulty arises, notify a doctor.
  -  If your child has a climbing fever and difficulty in breathing, he may
     have an inflammation of the epiglottis (the structure in the back of the
     throat that prevents food from entering the larynx and windpipe).
     Inflammation of the epiglottis is a medical emergency; take your child to
     a doctor immediately.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

     Your doctor will confirm the diagnosis and rule out other conditions by
physical examination of the child.  A throat culture and blood tests may be
necessary.  If laryngitis persists, your doctor may order x-ray studies of the
child's chest and neck or may refer you to an ear, nose, and throat
specialist.

RELATED TOPICS:  Coughs; Croup; Hoarseness