A Simple Guide to The Laryngitis and Vocal Cord Diseases

By Kenneth Kee

Chapter 1

Laryngitis

What is Laryngitis?

Laryngitis is the inflammation of the mucous membranes of the Larynx which produces the sound of the voice.

What are the causes of Laryngitis?

Laryngitis is caused by
1. bacterial or viral infections of the larynx.

2. excessive use of voice

3. inhalation of irritants such as cigarette smoke

Laryngitis is also associated with
1. bronchitis

2. pneumonia

3. whooping cough

4. diphtheria

What are the symptoms of Laryngitis?

Laryngitis produces mild but uncomfortable symptoms:

1. hoarseness of voice

2. loss of voice

3. pain on speaking

4. Tiredness

5. Fever low grade rare

How is the diagnosis of Laryngitis made?

1. Symptoms of hoarseness or loss of voice

2. Physical examination of the throat may show the presence of redness and swelling of the vocal cords with some pus discharge.

The movement of the vocal cords may be impeded.

Sometimes nodules may be found on the vocal cord due to excessive usage of voice.

3. nasal and throat swabs to determine the type of infection

4. X-ray of the chest and neck to determine any pressure of other organs pressing on the larynx

5. A biopsy of the nodules on the vocal cords if present to exclude malignancy

What is the treatment of Laryngitis?

1. Rest the voice.

A rested patient will recover faster.

2. Adequate warm Fluids helps to keep the mucus membranes moist

3. Steam inhalations may help

4. Antibiotics if there is suspicion of bacterial infection.

5. Gargles and decongestants may help to soothe the throat and vocal cords

6. Avoid smoking. talking

What is the prognosis of Laryngitis?

Acute laryngitis usually clears up within 10 days.

Very rarely chronic laryngitis may cause hoarseness of voice for months or years.

How is Laryngitis prevented?

Avoid strenuous use of voice.

Avoid smoking.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Chapter 1
Laryngitis

Chapter 2
Vocal Cord Paralysis

Chapter 3
Vocal Polyp

Chapter 4
Laryngopharyngeal Reflux

Chapter 5
Muscle Tension Dysphonia

Chapter 6
Laryngeal Cancer

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Kee
• Release date: Apr 15, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301586257

Kenneth Kee

Medical doctor since 1972.Started Kee Clinic in 1974 at 15 Holland Dr #03-102, relocated to 36 Holland Dr #01-10 in 2009.Did my M.Sc (Health Management ) in 1991 and Ph.D (Healthcare Administration) in 1993.Dr Kenneth Kee is still working as a family doctor at the age of 74However he has reduced his consultation hours to 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours inthe afternoon.He first started writing free blogs on medical disorders seen in the clinic in 2007 on http://kennethkee.blogspot.com.His purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of his patients which is also his dissertation for his Ph.D (Healthcare Administration). He then wrote an autobiography account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.comThis autobiography account “A Family Doctor’s Tale” was combined with his early “A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders” into a new Wordpress Blog “A Family Doctor’s Tale” on http://ken-med.com.From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 1000 eBooks.He apologized for typos and spelling mistakes in his earlier books.He will endeavor to improve the writing in futures.Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.The later books go into more details of medical disorders.He has published 1000 eBooks on various subjects on health, 1 autobiography of his medical journey, another on the autobiography of a Cancer survivor, 2 children stories and one how to study for his nephew and grand-daughter.The purpose of these simple guides is to educate patient on health disorders and not meant as textbooks.He does not do any night duty since 2000 ever since Dr Tan had his second stroke.His clinic is now relocated to the Buona Vista Community Centre.The 2 units of his original clinic are being demolished to make way for a new Shopping Mall.He is now doing some blogging and internet surfing (bulletin boards since the 1980's) startingwith the Apple computer and going to PC.The entire PC is upgraded by himself from XT to the present Pentium duo core.The present Intel i7 CPU is out of reach at the moment because the CPU is still expensive.He is also into DIY changing his own toilet cistern and other electric appliance.His hunger for knowledge has not abated and he is a lifelong learner.The children have all grown up and there are 2 grandchildren who are even more technically advanced than the grandfather where mobile phones are concerned.This book is taken from some of the many articles in his blog (now with 740 posts) A Family Doctor’s Tale.Dr Kee is the author of:"A Family Doctor's Tale""Life Lessons Learned From The Study And Practice Of Medicine""Case Notes From A Family Doctor"

Book preview

A

Simple

Guide

To

Larynx, Laryngitis

And

Vocal Cord Diseases

by

Dr Kenneth Kee

M.B.,B.S. (Singapore)

Ph.D (Healthcare Administration)

Copyright Kenneth Kee 2013 Smashwords Edition

Published By Kenneth Kee at Smashwords.com

Dedication

This book is dedicated

to my wife Dorothy

and my children

Carolyn, Grace

and Kelvin

This book describes the Larynx, Laryngitis and Vocal Cord Diseases such as Laryngitis, Vocal Cord Paralysis, Vocal Polyp, Laryngopharyngeal Reflux disease, Muscle Tension Dysphonia and Laryngeal Cancer

which are seen in some of my patients in my Family Clinic.

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader.

If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Introduction

The Larynx

Chapter 1

Laryngitis

Chapter 2

Vocal Cord Paralysis

Chapter 3

Vocal Polyp

Chapter 4

Laryngopharyngeal Reflux

Chapter 5

Muscle Tension Dysphonia

Chapter 6

Laryngeal Cancer

Epilogue

Introduction

The Larynx

The larynx or the voice box as it is commonly called is a complex organ in the neck of humans which is involved in breathing, sound production and protecting the trachea against food aspiration.

It consists of cartilages, ligaments, muscles and mucus membrane.

In adult humans the larynx lies in front of the pharynx in the anterior neck at the level of the C3–C6 vertebrae.

It connects the inferior part of the pharynx with the trachea.

The larynx houses the vocal cords which are essential for speech.

The vocal cords lie just below where the tract of the pharynx splits into the trachea and the esophagus.

Cartilages

The laryngeal skeleton consists of nine cartilages:

1. three single (epiglottic,