One of the diseases characteristic of childhood and carrying a huge danger to health is acute laryngitis: the child has inflamed mucous membranes of the larynx and vocal cords.
Deterioration of well-being begins with usual hypothermia and is manifested by a runny nose, a slight increase in temperature, reddening of the throat and its swelling with the presence of bloody discharge in the inflamed area.
The causes of the disease
The following factors contribute to the onset of acute laryngitis in a child:
- colds (ARVI, measles, flu, adenoviruses);
- allergens (varnishes, paints, dust, animal hair);
- an anatomically narrow larynx and nasopharynx, which swell during the inflammatory process, which provokes their narrowing even more, accordingly, the intake of air into the body is significantly impeded;
- gastroesophageal reflux disease, in which the contents of the stomach enter the larynx, which greatly irritates this organ;
- ingestion of a foreign body;
- mechanical damage;
- hot dry air, smoky room, dust, exhaust fumes;
- singing, talking in loud tones, a long cry - actions that cause overstrain of the vocal cords;
- weakened immunity, not always able to protect the body of crumbs even from ordinary drafts.
Acute laryngitis: symptoms and treatment in children
The described disease is a response of a young immature organism to the viral nature of the disease; Acute laryngitis in children under one year of age, who are still unable to explain to their parents what their concern is due to their young age, is especially dangerous. 
Often, symptoms indicating the presence of acute laryngitis occur suddenly and are accompanied by:
- a change in the voice timbre, its hoarseness and possible loss of voice,
- decreased appetite due to pain during swallowing,
- dry barking cough, the intensity of which increases during the night and especially in the morning,
- rapid or very difficult breathing,
- attacks of suffocation.
The bright symptoms that characterize acute laryngitis in a child are: the baby’s strong moodiness, restlessness, lethargy, barking cough, nasal discharge, scream, accompanied by wheezing. In the pulmonary region, noise and whistling are heard. Blue nasolabial triangle indicates the progression of such a dangerous disease as acute laryngitis. Symptoms and treatment in children are particularly alarming when an attack of false croup occurs - a narrowing of the lumen of the larynx, leading to difficulty breathing. This symptomatology is a good reason to call emergency care, because the current state carries a mortal danger. 
When diagnosing laryngitis, most likely, the child will be treated in a hospital where doctors can objectively assess the condition of the baby and the threat to his health. Therefore, parents should in no case refuse hospitalization.
Acute laryngitis in children: emergency care
Paroxysmal false croup in young children occurs suddenly (often at night) and very rapidly, literally in a couple of hours, develops. The child begins to choke, his breathing becomes noisy, coughing - barking, his voice - hoarse. 
With a significant narrowing of the larynx, it is clearly visible how, during inspiration, a cavity called the "jugular fossa" sinks in the lower part of the neck. Sagging of the skin surface between the ribs may also be observed. Usually, acute obstructive laryngitis in children is accompanied by a high temperature, but in the process of an attack of false croup, this indicator can not exceed 37.2 ° C. At this point, the sick baby is extremely scared, so it is very important that his parents keep calm and self-control.
First aid child
What actions should parents take when a child develops an attack of false croup?
- Immediately call an emergency.
- Prior to the arrival of doctors, constantly drink crumbs (in small portions, but often) with warm alkaline liquid: Borjomi water or a solution of 1 liter of boiled water with soda diluted in it (1 teaspoon). You can not give compotes and juices.
- Submerge the baby's hands (to the elbows) and legs (to the knees) in hot water. This action will somewhat alleviate the serious condition and allow the baby to breathe more freely.
- Humidify the air in the room: hang wet sheets or put water containers in the room.
- Give the baby an antiallergic agent: Suprastin, Zirtek, Fenistil or Tavegil.
- Effective use of drugs that relieve spasm: "Drotaverin", "Papaverine", "No-spa".
Complications of acute laryngitis
Acute stenosing laryngitis in children with untimely or incomplete treatment can lead to complications such as:
- phlegmon of the neck - inflammation of the soft tissues of this organ without clear boundaries, which has a purulent character,
- sepsis - the spread of infection throughout the child’s body through blood vessels,
- mediastinitis - inflammation of the middle region of the sternum,
- lung abscess - with localization of pus in this organ,
- damage to the cartilage of the larynx.
Diagnosis of the disease
With timely access to professional medical help, forecasts for the outcome of the disease are quite favorable. 
The doctor, when prescribing a course of therapy, will conduct an examination, which includes:
- medical history - information about the medical history, previous illnesses, living conditions of a small patient and so on;
- analysis of complaints: the time of their appearance and the factors that contributed to the onset of the ailment: voice stress, hypothermia, communication with sick people;
- general examination by palpation of the larynx to determine the degree of pain and lymph nodes for their increase;
- laryngoscopy: examination of the larynx with an endoscope and a special mirror;
- a blood test to determine the etiology of the disease (viral or bacterial);
- a smear from the mucosa, which allows to identify the pathogen if the infection is of a bacterial nature.
Information for Parents
Acute laryngitis of children of the year, the treatment of which is carried out in a medication way, also requires the organization of special conditions for a small patient, which is especially important for home therapy. What is recommended for parents to know? 
Helping a child with acute laryngitis consists in carrying out activities such as:
- Providing bed rest.
- Monitoring the state of air, its regular humidification and ventilation of the room.
- A plentiful warm and unsweetened drink (milk, fruit drinks, compotes, herbal decoctions). Alkaline water (Polyana Kvasova or Borjomi) is recommended for use, which helps to reduce the degree of poisoning of the body and relieve dry cough. Carbonated drinks are not allowed.
- Proper nutrition with dietary food, adjusted for vitamin composition. Food should not be too hot or very cold. To increase the appetite of the baby, parents are encouraged to originalize the prepared dishes.
- Limit the load on the voice device. The child should be silent a lot, talk a little. This recommendation is of particular importance, since in childhood the formation of vocal chords only occurs, and excessive efforts during a conversation can provoke irreversible voice defects.
- Stay in the fresh air, provided that the condition of the child has improved. It is undesirable to walk in cold and slushy weather, as well as on hot days when a large accumulation of dust is likely. At first, the duration of walks should not exceed 15-20 minutes. Then, the time spent in the fresh air can be gradually increased.
Drugs for the treatment of acute laryngitis
If acute laryngitis is diagnosed , the treatment in children is complex and is aimed at combating the bacterial environment, increasing immunity, and also eliminating the factors that cause coughing attacks. 
Recommended drugs, the action of which is aimed at the full and high-quality recovery of the baby, are:
- Antihistamines. They help in removing puffiness of the mucosa and have a calming effect on the baby. Usually, the doctor prescribes Clarisens (for infants, Zirtek (from 6 months), Clarotadin (from 2 years), Cetrin (in syrup from 1 year), Parlazin (from 6 years).
- Antitussive and expectorant. From a wide variety of medicines on the pharmaceutical market, the doctor selects the most optimal ones that can help the baby at the current stage of the disease. With a paroxysmal cough, the attending physician may prescribe "Herbion" (from 2 years), "Sinecode", "Libexin", "Erespal". When a cough goes into the wet stage, expectorants such as Bronchosan, Ambrobene, Lazolvan, ACC, Fluimucil help a lot.
- Antipyretic drugs (Panadol, Paracetomol, Ibuprofen). Appointed at high (over 38 ° C) temperature.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. For example, Ibufen.
Acute laryngitis in a child is not recommended to be treated with aerosols and resorption tablets: against the background of a dry cough, the baby can choke on tablets, and sprays can cause laryngospasm - an allergic reaction that can worsen the condition of the child.
Antibiotics for acute laryngitis
Antibacterial therapy is rarely prescribed - in the case of the bacterial nature of the disease and increased intoxication of the body. Of the penicillin preparations used in the treatment of acute laryngitis: Augmentin, Flemoklav Solutab, Amoksiklav, suspension Ecoklav. Of the cephalosporins, the syrups Cefix, Suprax, Cefadox, as well as injections of Fortum and Ceftriaxone are effective. In severe cases of the disease, Ecomed, Sumamed, Azitrox, Macropen, Clarithomycin are prescribed. In parallel with the process of antibiotic treatment and upon completion, the child should take probiotics that contribute to the normalization of microflora: Linex, Lactovit, Bifiform, Bifidobacterin.
Inhalation in acute laryngitis
A mandatory part of the comprehensive treatment of laryngitis is inhalation, which is effective with a nebulizer. The advantages of this treatment method are safety due to low temperature, ease of use, high efficiency of the increased dispersion (dispersion) of inhaled particles. As therapeutic solutions, you can use mineral water (Borjomi, Esentuki), soda solution, herbal decoctions (of mint, chamomile, sage, thyme), essential oils (eucalyptus, menthol), medicines ("Rotokan", " Sinupret "," Lazolvan "," Tolsingon "). For the treatment of infants (over 6 months of age), you can use the suspension for the Pulmicort nebulizer. 
Acute laryngitis in children, the symptoms of which indicate the need for professional medical care, in a hospital setting is treated with physiotherapeutic measures: UV, UHF, larynx electrophoresis. With persistent violations of the voice, classes with a speech therapist are necessary.
Traditional medicine for acute laryngitis
In the treatment of laryngitis, one should not abandon the methods of alternative therapy, an effective component of which are warming compresses. They need to be applied to the cervical area. If there is no temperature on the back, it is recommended to apply mustard plasters.
Mustard baths for legs show a high effect. Inhalation of potato steam helps well. To prepare a medicinal solution, you need to boil the unpeeled potato tubers, drain the water, and put the potatoes on a sheet of chamomile, mint or eucalyptus. The baby is recommended to breathe over the generated steam for 10 minutes. It is worth considering that too small children should be given such steam inhalation with extreme caution due to the existing risk of mucosal burns. The number of procedures during the day is two, between meals. In the process of inhalation and at the end of it for at least 30 minutes, the child should not talk, drink or eat.
Gargling in the treatment of colds is one of the effective measures that help in a speedy recovery. One of the effective home remedies is boiled beet juice, which is recommended to carry out the procedure 3 times a day. As an effective analogue, you can use honey broth, for the preparation of which it takes 1 teaspoon of honey, pour a glass of boiling water and boil for 1 minute. Rinse should be done 3-4 times a day.
Folk remedies for acute laryngitis in children are decoctions for rinsing a sore throat from chamomile and sage. In the treatment of laryngitis, the use of dill seeds is effective, which should be poured with boiling water and insisted for 40 minutes. It is recommended to drink the broth every day in small portions.
You can treat acute laryngitis in a child with fresh carrot juice (or cranberry), in which you need to add 2 tbsp. tablespoons of honey.
Preventive actions
Prevention of acute laryngitis in children should be aimed at strengthening immunity with vitamins, appropriate for the age of physical activity, contrasting water procedures, as well as complete and timely treatment of all infectious diseases.
To strengthen the immune system, traditional medicine recommends eating a composition of softened cranberries mixed with chopped walnut kernels, finely chopped green apples and sugar (optional). These components should be boiled over low heat, bringing to a boil. Drinking a healing medicine is recommended with herbal tea based on lemon balm, mint and chestnut flowers.
Significantly increase the immunity of the walnut kernels, dried apricots and prunes, crushed in a blender.
The prognosis for children who have had laryngitis is favorable. Children "outgrow" this disease. As soon as the nervous system is fully formed, the friability of the submucosal layer disappears, the child ceases to suffer from laryngitis.
Prognosis of laryngitis
In acute laryngitis, almost all babies pass through stenosis (narrowing) of the larynx. And only skillful and timely actions of parents can prevent serious complications and cure a dangerous disease.
The prognosis of a child who has had laryngitis has favorable soil. With the finally formed nervous system and the disappearance of the loose submucosal layer, the baby ceases to suffer from laryngitis, "outgrowing" it.