Inflamed Vocal Cords: Causes, Symptoms And Treatments

Inflammation of the vocal cords causes changes in the voice and is painful. Sometimes it is infectious in origin, but other times it can be the result of excessive straining of the voice. How do you treat it? We will detail it for you in this article.

When we have inflamed vocal cords our voice gets weird and a particular discomfort in the neck tells us something is wrong. In winter, we associate it with cold and temperature changes. However, there can also be occupational pathologies behind this disorder.

The vocal cords are very small muscles that are found in the larynx. This is where the air passes for us to speak, thanks to the vibrations that these fibers feel. When inflammatory fluid builds up in the area, it makes sense to think that we won’t be talking the same way.

Causes of inflamed vocal cords

The vocal cords can become inflamed on their own, along their entire length, or as a result of a growth process on their surface. However, we could say, in more depth,  that the causes can be infectious or non-infectious.

Among the infectious agents, we find viruses and bacteria. Laryngitis having this origin has its peak onset in autumn and winter, when low temperatures favor the spread of viral particles and microorganisms that colonize the anatomical area.

To defend itself,  the immune system mobilizes white blood cells and immunoglobulins in the region,  which increases the flow of fluids which, faced with the thinness of the cords, cause them to block. Their functionality is therefore reduced throughout the process.

Infectious laryngitis can last up to 3 weeks, and very often when the original agent is gone. This is because the immune reaction is prolonged over time and the inflammation persists, despite the lack of what caused it.

For their part, the non-infectious forms of laryngitis mainly have occupational origins. Teachers, professors, and speakers are well aware that neglecting and straining their voice too much can lead to the development of nodules and polyps.

Inflamed vocal cords in the professional field are a subject of study for forensic medicine. They are seen as a consequence of the lack of prevention in workspaces, and in particular in schools.

Faced with excessive use of the voice for long periods of time, without rest, without hydration and with high sound levels, the small muscles of the larynx accumulate fluid due to the friction between them. If all of this is repeated, we can end up with chronicity.

Symptoms of laryngitis

When we talk about laryngitis or inflamed vocal cords,  the first thing we recognize is the alteration in the voice. Despite this, as we will see later, this is not the only sign that indicates a problem.

The changes in the voice have nuances. Some people decrease the intensity of their voice, even when wanting to shout or trying to speak louder. Others experience complete loss of voice, in a setting we would call “aphonia”.

Pain is not unusual. They are sometimes confused with pharyngitis – the pharynx is located above the larynx – or with difficulty swallowing, mistakenly associated with the esophagus. Laryngitis hurts insidiously and repeatedly, all the time, making it  difficult to rest and sleep.

Snoring is also part of the presentation spectrum of inflamed vocal cords. In overweight people, they are more obvious because, when they are in a horizontal position, the weight of the neck puts more pressure on the larynx and interrupts the passage of air.

Paralysis of the vocal cords due to inflammation is the most serious form of the disorder. Since these are muscles, you should know that they can end up exhausting due to the inordinate effort they have to make. They can even lose their characteristic muscle tone.

How to treat inflamed vocal cords?

The treatment of the pathology will depend on the cause. Viral laryngitis has nothing to do with a polyp in the cords due to occupational disease. Long-term treatment of a person with chronic dysphonia is similarly very different from treating aphonia through infection, which will heal within a few days.

Now let’s analyze the most common diseases that can occur and how to treat them:

• Viral laryngitis:  This is the most common infection of the vocal cords. There is no specific treatment because antibiotics are unnecessary. You just have to rest your voice and recover. Sometimes anti-inflammatory drugs are needed to calm the pain and help thin the secretions. Cough suppressants are not recommended because they provide no benefit.
• Nodules and polyps:  these overgrowths in the vocal cords are treated through a study that can also be therapeutic, such as laryngoscopy. A device is inserted into the nose, with an integrated camera and surgical working tools. If necessary, an incision is made to remove them and, if this is not possible, rehabilitation work with audiologists is offered.
• Laryngeal cancer:  the oncological treatment plan for this pathology is determined according to the severity and stage at which it is. This will determine whether surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or a combination of all three are needed.

When to consult with the presence of voice alterations?

The vocal cords are delicate organs. Their care is fundamental because our voice allows us to communicate with others, at a level of expression that is felt if we do not have it or have lost it.

In case of dysphonia, aphonia or sore throat, it is best to see a doctor. If it is viral laryngitis, he will prescribe conventional treatment and rest. On the other hand, if we think of nodules or polyps, the otolaryngologist will do an invasive examination to see directly what is happening. This will be quick and will lead to a diagnosis.