Larynx, Inflammatory Diseases

Definition

Inflammatory diseases of the larynx may be of infectious or noninfectious origin. Acute infections present with a sudden onset and develop symptoms like fever and respiratory distress. Chronic infections develop over a longer period and present with hoarseness and pain.

Acute infections of the larynx are predominately relatively harmless viral infections but hazardous infections like laryngotracheitis (croup), epiglottitis, and diphtheria must be taken into consideration, because the latter can be lethal especially for children. Angioneurotic edema causing inspiratory stridor affects adolescents and adults more commonly than children.

Chronic laryngitisdevelops over weeks to month and the dominant symptoms are hoarseness and pain caused by exogen factors (cigarette smoking, occupational contact with toxic fumes, voice abuse, gastroesophageal reflux disease), granulomatous and fungal infections. Systemic diseases involving the larynx are rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis,...