Speaking about a burn of the larynx, most people recall a circus trick in which fakirs swallow fire effectively and then blow it out, striking all of its spectators. But, contrary to all stereotypes, such numbers rarely end sadly. Most often, a larynx burn occurs in everyday life, as a result of inattention and banal negligence.
Basic information
A burn is called damage to body tissues that was caused by exposure to high temperature or the influence of chemicals. The latter are very often alkali, salts of heavy metals, acids, etc.
A burn of the laryngeal mucosa is closely related to a burn of the throat. These are not identical concepts, but very close.
A throat burn is an injury to the mucous membrane of this organ. It usually occurs due to the damaging effects of thermal or chemical factors. The most common cause of this pathology is ordinary negligence.
A burn of the larynx is a lesion of the epithelium of the said organ. In severe cases, the influencing factor can affect deep-seated tissues such as muscles, ligaments and cartilage. The consequences of such injuries are extremely dangerous for humans.
In what situations do they occur?
Where can I get a larynx burn? Most often, such phenomena occur randomly in industrial or domestic conditions. Less commonly, burns are deliberate injuries that occur when attempting suicide.
Under production conditions, the pathology in question can occur as a result of a person inhaling vapors of chemical compounds. Usually this is due to the fact that the employee did not use personal protective equipment (for example, a respirator).
Types of burns, consequences
Depending on the type of exposure factor, burns are classified into:
Symptoms and methods of first aid for such injuries may vary. However, it should be said that both thermal and chemical damage to the larynx almost always cause immediate pain, and also require urgent medical attention.
If the burn of the larynx has a mild severity, then it can not be treated, since the epithelium of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract is self-healing quite quickly. As for more serious and serious injuries, they often lead to disability and even death.
Possible causes of burns
Why does larynx damage occur? The causes of a burn of the mucous membrane of this organ can be different. However, all of them are caused either by chemical factors or thermal.
Chemical burn of the larynx
Such an injury is a pretty serious problem. Most often, the main reason for the occurrence of such a pathology is the intake of strong alcohol or some drugs.
Few people know, but very often the banal treatment of tonsillitis with alcohol iodine or various tinctures leads precisely to a chemical burn of the throat. After all, the substances mentioned are aggressive elements that can cause serious damage to mucous tissues. The same applies to medicines such as Yoks and Lugol. These drugs are also made on the basis of iodine. Their use in the presence of severe pharyngitis can easily result in appropriate trauma.
Specific products that often cause chemical burns include the following:
- vinegar;
- lemon acid;
- ammonia;
- acetone;
- soda;
- ethanol;
- acids and alkalis.
A burn of the larynx with gastric juice is also a common occurrence. At the same time, a person can for a long time feel severe pain and burning in the chest area. Such symptoms indicate the throwing of gastric juice into the esophagus. Usually, a similar pathological process occurs in the presence of gastritis, accompanied by increased acidity.
Thermal burn
This type of injury occurs when you use boiling water or too hot food. Also, a thermal burn of the larynx may well form when inhalation of hot air. In this case, in addition to damage to the mucous membrane, the patient's general well-being worsens, eyesight problems develop, and the work of some internal organs is disrupted.
It should be noted that this type of burn is easier than chemical. This is due to the fact that hot substances act on the larynx for a short time. Moreover, they are quickly neutralized by cool water.
Symptoms of Injury
What are the symptoms of a laryngeal burn? Such a pathological phenomenon is practically always accompanied by a painful and intense pain syndrome, which is especially noticeable during swallowing. It is also characterized by burning and unpleasant sensation in the nasopharynx, dyspeptic disorders, excessive salivation, fever, redness and swelling of the mucous membrane, the appearance of whitening and blistering areas on it, soreness and enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes, shortness of breath, change in timbre of the voice, coughing, palpitations.
Very often, a burn of the larynx with alcohol or other chemicals extends to the lower respiratory tract (for example, to the trachea or bronchi). In this case, the general condition of the victim is significantly deteriorating.
If the esophagus is injured together with the larynx, the patient may complain of excruciating pain in the chest and epigastric region, prolonged hiccups, belching and heartburn.
With irritation of an impressive number of nerve endings, such serious consequences as reflex respiratory arrest occur. The most severe burns cause toxic shock.
Other symptoms
A local burn of the pharynx is most often manifested by internal discomfort. If the injury is slight, then it goes away on its own in a few days. If the damage is more serious, then you should consult a doctor.
Thermal injury to the larynx usually occurs when eating hot food, liquid, or inhaling hot air. The pathology caused by boiling water cannot be isolated. It always extends to the mucosa of the oral cavity, esophagus and trachea. Symptoms of such damage develop rapidly, which causes great discomfort. The victim has a sharp and rather excruciating pain, reflex vomiting, hypersalivation and other characteristic clinical manifestations.
As for the chemical burn, in comparison with the thermal burn, it is less common. Although this lesion is much harder. Moreover, it is much worse treatable.
It should be noted that burns of the laryngeal epithelium with various chemicals are extremely dangerous for humans. Despite the fact that clinically they manifest themselves similarly to thermal injuries, their consequences are much more serious. If chemical elements enter the respiratory tract, dysphonia and dysphagia may develop, as well as respiratory failure.
First aid
Treatment of a laryngeal burn should begin with first aid. The severity of the consequences depends on its speed and quality.
The first thing to do is to establish the lesion factor, that is, find out exactly how the burn occurred. Next, assess the severity of the injury and the condition of the victim. If possible, it is recommended to examine the patient and the lesion site. With acid burns, a dry scab is noted on the mucous membrane, and with alkalis it is jelly-like, moist.
The first emergency aid for thermal injuries of the larynx is the usual use of crushed ice, cool water or gargling with anesthetics. Most often, the second option is used, since cold liquid is always available. Drinking water during a burn can stop its spread inside tissues. It should be drunk in small sips, delaying as long as possible at the damaged area.
If the victim managed to find pieces of ice, then they must be slowly absorbed in the mouth. The use of a solution of novocaine or lidocaine also helps to eliminate pain.
First aid for a chemical burn should be aimed at neutralizing alkalis and acids that enter the human body. For acid injuries, a soda solution is used, and for alkaline injuries, a solution of acetic or citric acids is used. The victim is also washed the stomach, give a glass of milk and a small amount of vegetable oil.
In order to alleviate the patient’s condition a little, it is advisable to provide him with an influx of fresh air. It is also recommended that the victim observe a silence regimen and exclude products from his diet that irritate the affected mucosa.
Hospital treatment
How to treat a larynx burn in a hospital? Such injuries, namely 2 and 3 severity, should be eliminated by taking the following groups of drugs:
- painkillers (Lidocaine, Analgin, Trimecaine, etc.);
- sedatives (Persen, Afobazol, Valoserdin);
- detoxification (glucose-salt solutions, etc.);
- sulfonamides;
- broad-spectrum antibiotics;
- glucocorticosteroids ("Hydrocortisone", "Prednisolone");
- antiseptic ("Anestezin", "Akvalor", "Miramistin");
- antihistamines (Suprastin, Diphenhydramine);
- accelerating tissue regeneration and epithelization (Retinol, Aaevit, Solcoseryl, Aekol, Methyluracil).
Folk methods
Traditional medicine is used only for the treatment of burns of 1 severity. To this end, carry out procedures such as:
- cold compresses on the throat;
- rinsing with decoctions of medicinal herbs;
- irrigation of affected tissues with rosehip or peach oil;
- throat lubrication with sea buckthorn or olive oil;
- oil inhalation.
Surgical intervention
Surgery for burns of the larynx is extremely rare. As a rule, surgical intervention is indicated only in especially severe cases when drug and local therapy do not have the desired effect. It should be remembered that surgical methods are always fraught with the formation of scars and ulcers, as well as serious deformations leading to dysfunctions of the affected organ.