Laryngotracheitis
Inflammation affecting the tracheal and laryngeal cavities and having a viral or bacterial nature is called laryngotracheitis. Often the disease occurs as a complication of inflammatory processes in anatomically close structures. It is often complicated by the development of processes such as bronchitis or pneumonia.
Often, in patients under the age of 6 years, due to anatomical features, laryngotracheitis provokes the development of false croup (narrowing of the tracheal lumen).
Reasons
As a rule, this ailment is of an infectious nature and can be a symptom of acute viral and infectious ailments.
Infection occurs by airborne droplets from an already ill person or carrier at the time of coughing and sneezing. With a “strong” state of immunity, as well as with low activity of the infection agent, the development of symptoms of laryngotracheitis, as a rule, does not occur.
The provoking factors for the emergence and development of such a condition are:
weakness of the human body;
inability to carry out nasal breathing due to chronically occurring rhinitis, sinusitis, curved nasal septum;
occupational hazards;
disturbed conditions of inhaled air;
smoking.
Symptoms
In acute form, the ailment manifests itself as a barking cough. It is often combined with short-term ongoing pain in the sternum. The cough is paroxysmal and develops at night and in the morning. Coughing is provoked by streams of cold air, laughter, crying, and sometimes even a deep breath. Cough may be combined with the separation of a small amount of viscous sputum. Along with the cough, patients feel dryness, burning. Sometimes they describe their sensations as a foreign body in the larynx.
The chronic form of the disease is mainly manifested by complaints of voice disorders, unpleasant sensations in the larynx and in the chest area, cough. Dysphonia, hoarseness often become permanent and poorly corrected symptoms of this form of the disease.
Often, the phenomena of laryngotracheitis are added to the phenomena of lymphadenitis of the cervical group of lymph nodes.
During auscultation, noisy breathing and wet wheezing are recorded.
Do not forget that the manifestation of laryngotracheitis develops against the background of infectious and inflammatory processes and therefore additional accompanying symptoms will be:
runny nose,
nasal congestion,
elevated body temperature;
discomfort in the larynx.
Diagnostics
The diagnostic program for laryngotracheitis is based on:
collection of complaints and anamnesis;
physical examination;
auscultation of the bronchi and lungs;
percussion;
results of backseeds;
laryngotracheoscopy data;
data from X-ray studies of the lungs and CT diagnostics.
Treatment
Treatment of this ailment is most often carried out on an outpatient basis.
The use of an increased amount of fortified drink in a warm form is shown. The patient should be in a room with warm and sufficiently humidified air.
In the viral form of the disease, the use of antiviral drugs is indicated. With the bacterial nature of the disease, the use of antibiotics is indicated.
Symptomatic therapy should consist in the appointment of expectorants, lowering body temperature drugs, mucolytics and antihistamines.
In cases where the classical therapy of the disease with the help of medications and physiotherapy does not bring improvements and at high risks of the degeneration of the chronic form of this disease into a malignant formation, the use of surgical aids is indicated. As a rule, it is carried out by endoscopic methods and is characterized by low traumatism.
