What is laryngitis? This is an inflammatory process that affects the mucous membrane of the larynx. Causes a catarrhal or infectious disease (whooping cough, measles, scarlet fever). In this case, a strong cough occurs, and very sharp changes occur in the voice. It becomes hoarse or completely disappears. Therefore, the doctor does not advise a person with laryngitis to talk a lot, as this inhibits the recovery process. There are several forms of such a disease, some of which pose a certain danger to humans. So what is laryngitis, contagious or not, is this ailment? Let's try to figure it out.
What is the danger of laryngitis?
This disease develops as a result of hypothermia, smoking, inhaling cold air through the mouth, overstrain of the larynx, and drinking alcohol. Inflammation of the larynx occurs, the vocal cords are irritated, the voice may disappear. Laryngitis occurs suddenly, proceeds with a high temperature, asthma attacks may appear, which is dangerous for both adults and children. Many people have a reasonable question about laryngitis: is it contagious? To answer this question, it is necessary to consider its forms.
What is laryngitis?
Acute laryngitis is a disease resulting from tension of the voice or severe hypothermia. The inflammatory process in this case can affect the mucous membrane of the entire larynx, epiglottis, the walls of the vocal folds or the sub-vocal cavity. The disease develops very quickly and lasts no more than two weeks.
Acute laryngitis can take a chronic form. The inflammatory process occurs in the throat or nose and also lasts no more than two weeks.
It is dangerous for young children with laryngitis. Is this infectious disease? It is difficult to unequivocally answer this question. If the disease arose due to pathogenic viruses or bacteria, then it is likely that a sick person will be able to infect others. But to determine whether laryngitis is contagious or not is not possible on its own. Only a doctor can do this after examining the patient.
Symptoms of the disease
At the very beginning of its development, the ailment is manifested by unpleasant sensations of dryness and burning in the larynx, but the general condition remains stable. After a while, a convulsive cough occurs, exhausting a person, a headache appears and it becomes difficult to swallow. The voice becomes hoarse, turning subsequently into a whisper.
Cough from dry to wet, begins to expectorate sputum, sometimes with pus. White blood cells rise strongly in the blood, and the mucous membrane of the larynx turns red sharply, capillaries begin to burst, contributing to the appearance of crimson spots. If acute laryngitis occurs, the incubation period of this disease lasts from several hours to several years.
Causes of the disease
The disease can result from an allergy to pungent odors. This can be, for example, paint or varnish that is felt in the room where the repair was recently made. Various pets can be allergens, in addition, coughing often provokes fish food. If the apartment is very dusty or there are ticks that the tenant does not even suspect about, this also contributes to the development of the inflammatory process in the throat.
Laryngitis can develop due to medications. Any sprays for the throat and nose for children under three years of age must be used with extreme caution. The child’s body helps protect the lower parts of the respiratory tract from the penetration of foreign elements into them, and since the spray jet strikes with force the back wall of the pharynx with the nerve endings there, this can cause spasm of the vocal cords. This leads to the development of the disease.
Viruses are considered the most common cause of barking cough. Infection affects the upper respiratory tract and viruses accumulate around the vocal cords. It is not worth using antibiotics for treatment, since the virus does not respond to them. In this case, inhalations, bed rest and a plentiful warm drink are prescribed. If viral laryngitis occurs, the incubation period usually lasts from 1 to 5 days. This type of disease is considered non-contagious. Recovery is faster if a person stops smoking and regularly moistens the air in the room.
Contagious disease
So, is acute laryngitis contagious? The infectious form of this disease occurs as a result of agents that accumulate on the vocal cords, which cause inflammation. In this case, laryngitis is considered very contagious and is transmitted by airborne droplets, contributing to inflammation of the respiratory tract.
A bacterial disease is usually characterized by fever. Is such acute laryngitis transmitted or not from person to person? It is very contagious for both an adult and a child. The disease spreads when coughing and sneezing a sick person. Disease-causing bacteria enter the air and begin to spread with air currents, contributing to their sedimentation on the laryngeal mucosa in other people. The risk of contracting bacterial laryngitis remains for several days after the person has recovered.
This type of disease is characterized by abundant discharge from the nose, giving to the throat and ears with pain, difficulty swallowing, high fever. Particularly acute is bacterial laryngitis in children. During exacerbation, choking attacks are possible, while the airways are blocked almost completely. It is recommended to treat the disease in a hospital under medical supervision.
How to treat laryngitis?
It does not matter if the laryngitis is contagious or not, you should consult a doctor if the first signs of this disease occur. This is a very serious ailment, which in a state of neglect can cause serious consequences. Using various methods of treatment, it is possible to quickly get rid of this disease. Antibiotics only help with the bacterial form of laryngitis.
During treatment, it is necessary to observe bed rest, drink as many warm drinks as possible, gargle with solutions, make inhalations from herbs. Therapy should be carried out under the supervision of the attending physician, as some herbs can cause allergies. For inhalations, it is best to use oregano and St. John's wort, which are good at eliminating sputum and have anti-inflammatory properties.
Output
Thus, laryngitis is contagious or not, can be determined by studying the causes that caused it. Bacterial and infectious species are considered contagious. To protect yourself from such a disease, you should wear a gauze bandage, and isolate the patient in a separate room.