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Acute and chronic laryngitis
Last reviewed: 12.07.2025
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Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx of any etiology.
Chronic edematous polypous laryngitis is often called polypoid hypertrophy, polypoid degeneration, polypous laryngitis, Reinke's edema, and Reinke-Hajek disease.
Chronic hyperplastic laryngitis is a chronic laryngitis characterized by diffuse hyperplasia of the laryngeal mucosa or limited hyperplasia in the form of nodules, mushroom-shaped elevations, folds or ridges.
Chronic edematous polypous laryngitis is a polypoid hyperplasia of the vocal folds.
Abscessing or phlegmonous laryngitis - acute laryngitis with the formation of an abscess, most often on the lingual surface of the epiglottis or on the aryepiglottic folds; manifested by sharp pain when swallowing and phonation, radiating to the ear, an increase in body temperature, the presence of a dense infiltrate in the tissues of the larynx,
Chondroperichondritis of the larynx is an acute or chronic inflammation of the laryngeal cartilage, i.e. chondritis, in which the inflammatory process affects the perichondrium and surrounding tissues.
ICD-10 code
- J04 Acute laryngitis and tracheitis.
- J04.0 Acute laryngitis.
- J04.2 Acute laryngotracheitis.
- J05 Acute obstructive laryngitis (croup) and epiglottitis.
- J05.0 Acute obstructive laryngitis (croup).
- J37 Chronic laryngitis and laryngotracheitis.
- J37.0 Chronic laryngitis.
- J37.1 Chronic laryngotracheitis.
Causes of acute and chronic laryngitis
Acute laryngitis develops relatively rarely as an independent disease and can be of inflammatory and non-inflammatory nature. Usually acute laryngitis is a symptom complex of acute respiratory viral infections (flu, parainfluenza, adenovirus infection), in which the mucous membrane of the nose and pharynx, and sometimes the lower respiratory tract (bronchi, lungs) are also involved in the inflammatory process. Respiratory viruses occupy a significant place among the causes of acute laryngitis (up to 90% of cases), followed by bacterial (staphylococci, streptococci), chlamydial and fungal infections. Acute epiglottitis, epiglottis abscess is most often caused by Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes. Causes of laryngitis include infection, external and internal trauma to the neck and larynx, including inhalation injuries and foreign body ingestion, allergies, and gastroesophageal reflux.
Symptoms of acute and chronic laryngitis
Symptoms of laryngitis include hoarseness, cough, and difficulty breathing. Acute forms are characterized by a sudden onset of the disease in a generally good condition or against the background of slight malaise. Body temperature remains normal or rises to subfebrile numbers in catarrhal acute laryngitis. Febrile temperature, as a rule, reflects the addition of inflammation of the lower respiratory tract or the transition of catarrhal inflammation of the larynx to phlegmonous. Infiltrative and abscessing forms of acute laryngitis are characterized by severe pain in the throat, difficulty swallowing, including liquids, severe intoxication, and increasing symptoms of laryngeal stenosis. The severity of clinical manifestations directly correlates with the severity of inflammatory changes. The general condition of the patient becomes severe. The development of phlegmon of the entire and mediastinitis, sepsis, abscessing pneumonia is possible.
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Screening
To identify pathologies of the ear, throat and nose, it is necessary to regularly conduct a dispensary examination of the population, and all patients with hoarseness should undergo laryngoscopy.
Diagnosis of acute and chronic laryngitis
Patients with catarrhal form of acute or chronic laryngitis do not require special examination. Patients with acute abscessing, infiltrative and chronic laryngitis undergo a comprehensive general clinical examination. In addition, microbiological, mycological, histological studies are necessary; in some cases, PCR diagnostics are used to identify the etiological factors of the disease.
Acute and Chronic Laryngitis - Diagnosis
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Treatment of acute and chronic laryngitis
Of great importance is the limitation of the voice load, while whispering is prohibited. High clinical efficiency has been proven by local anti-inflammatory, especially inhalation therapy. For this purpose, antibacterial, mucolytic, hormonal medicinal herbs and herbal preparations with anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect, as well as mineral water are used. Good effect is achieved by the use of physiotherapeutic methods: electrophoresis of 1% potassium iodide, hyaluronidase or calcium chloride on the larynx, therapeutic laser, microwaves, phonophoresis, including endolaryngeal, etc. In complicated abscessing and phlegmonous laryngitis, chondroperichondritis, hyperbaric oxygenation can be used.
Prevention of acute and chronic laryngitis
Prevention of chronic inflammatory process of the larynx consists of timely treatment of acute laryngitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, infectious diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract, quitting smoking, and observing a voice regime.