Laryngitis (Acute & Chronic) Acute : Larynx is an organ of voice and an inflammation thereof is called ‘Laryngitis’. When voice is used forcibly, used at high pitch, at a stretch, when infection of any type sets in, there may be pain on swallowing, using voice, speaking or putting any sort of extra strain on the organ will result in laryngitis which is also known as ‘spasmodic laryngitis or spasmodic croup’.
There is crowing respiration, marked dyspnoea, restless¬ness, pain on attempting to speak, frequent cough, coming more particularly at night, voice is hoarse and painful. There may also be fever, dry & husky cough, dyspnoea, (often it is quite severe after 3-4 days), thirst, loss of appetite; burning & itching sensation in throat, mucus discharge is difficult to expel as the mucus is thick and stingy.
There is also barking cough, hoarse voice. Exposure to wet and cold weather, living foul-smelling and dirty quarters, inhabalion of dust and smoke are the other causes. Avoidance of precepitatory causes is the only way out, as repeated attacks are liable to render the problem complicated, chronic and unmanage¬able. In a few cases the larynx may have to be removed surgically.
Take Ampicillin caps 250 mg 6-hourly or Erythromycin 500 mg twice daily (12 – hourly) or Amoxyllin Cap. 500 mg 2-3 times daily at an interval of 12/8 hours. Use voice sparingly. Hot compresses may be applied over the throat. Saline water gargles in the morning and evening (at least 2-3 hours before taking meals) will give much needed relief and some lozenges may be sucked to provide soothing relief
Note:- Ampicillin may cause loose motions in some patients, hence use with unmost care. Amoxyllin and Erythronyein are said to be quite safe.