The hoarseness is the loss of voice. Usually caused by an inflammation of the larynx or trauma. Causes of hoarseness:
Dysphagia, or discomfort when swallowing, refers to difficulty in swallowing or swallowing food, and is most common in elderly patients. In many cases it is a consequence of cerebrovascular accidents, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or tracheotomies, diseases that cause problems in the tongue, the muscles of the throat and the oesophagus. Practical treatments focus on preventing food from getting stuck: exercises to strengthen the jaw muscles, sitting upright, waiting for three hours after eating in order to go to sleep, ingesting food in small amounts and accompanying it with plenty of liquid, and eating meals slowly.
Dysphonia is a disorder characterised by an alteration of the timbre of the voice (difficulty in speaking) which can be due to various organic or functional causes of the larynx and vocal cords. When it occurs in children, it can come from neurological disorders, malformations of the larynx, laryngeal papillomatosis caused by viral infections, or from the voice being overly strained. The latter is the most common cause of dysphonia in adults, and that an untreated hyperfunction voice can produce other pathologies such as nodules or polyps on the vocal cords. In addition, other factors that can trigger dysphonia: gastro reflux, smoking, infections such as laryngitis or tuberculosis, neurological disorders or tumours of the larynx.
This happens when the top part of the gullet does not relax when swallowing, the pressure causes a small hernia over time.This can cause a chronic cough, or get larger and fill up with fluids, causing infection.
Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils that are located at the back of the throat. It is very common in children and adolescents, but adults can suffer from tonsillitis too.
If you have tonsillitis, your tonsils will be red and swollen. You will also have a combination of the following symptoms:
Tonsillitis is caused by a viruses or bacterial infection. Streptococcal tonsillitis is the most common cause. The tonsils are vulnerable to infection because they are one of the body’s first lines of defence in the immune system.
Tonsillitis can be prevented by practising good hygiene:
If your tonsillitis is caused by a virus, then at-home care is the only treatment for recovery. The following can be used to promote a quicker, more comfortable recovery:
If your tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection, then you will be prescribed a course of antibiotics. These must be taken as instructed, and the full course finished.
People who suffer from tonsillitis frequently are advised to have the tonsils removed.
If an abscess forms between the tonsils (this is called a quinsy), see a doctor, as this may need to be drained.
Voice disorders are disorders in sounds that depend on the larynx (vocal cords) and affect the pitch, timbre, intensity or duration. The origin of such changes can be organic, physiological, psychological or environmental. In addition, there are two types of disorders: dysphonia and aphonia. Aphonia is the total loss of voice temporarily or chronic and can be caused by overuse of the vocal cords, respiratory disease, intake of toxic or irritating products, excessive cold or nervous causes. Treatment may include resting the voice, medication, voice therapy or, in severe cases, surgery. Dysphonia is a disorder of voice intensity due to an injury in the organs of phonation (organic) or poor use of the voice (functional). The most common causes of this condition are overly straining your voice (voice hyperfunction), gastroesophageal reflux, smoking, infections such as laryngitis or tuberculosis, neurological disorders of the larynx, tumors, and trauma, among others. The treatment involves learning relaxation techniques and breathing, exercising the shoulder, neck and face muscles, and speech therapy.
Professor Martin Birchall is a world-leading academic, renowned surgeon, and pioneer in the field of laryngology. He is a specialist in voice, swallowing and breathing problems as well as coughs and neck lumps. He co-led the first team that used stem cell-based organ transplants and continues to dedicate himself to pioneering life-altering techniques via his active research and presence in the field.
He is currently the principal investigator on four clinical trials, including one which is exploring a new way to restore voice functions using the drive from unaffected nerves. He treats vocal cord weakness (palsy) using the latest technology such as laryngeal reinnervation and transcutaneous vocal cord injections and is an expert in managing pharyngeal pouches (Zenker's diverticula) using techniques including lasers and transnasal oesophagoscopy. He is a supporter and medical advisor to a number of charities including the National Association of Laryngectomee Clubs, Shout Against Cancer and Youth Against Crime.
The hoarseness is the loss of voice. Usually caused by an inflammation of the larynx or trauma. Causes of hoarseness:
Dysphagia, or discomfort when swallowing, refers to difficulty in swallowing or swallowing food, and is most common in elderly patients. In many cases it is a consequence of cerebrovascular accidents, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or tracheotomies, diseases that cause problems in the tongue, the muscles of the throat and the oesophagus. Practical treatments focus on preventing food from getting stuck: exercises to strengthen the jaw muscles, sitting upright, waiting for three hours after eating in order to go to sleep, ingesting food in small amounts and accompanying it with plenty of liquid, and eating meals slowly.
Dysphonia is a disorder characterised by an alteration of the timbre of the voice (difficulty in speaking) which can be due to various organic or functional causes of the larynx and vocal cords. When it occurs in children, it can come from neurological disorders, malformations of the larynx, laryngeal papillomatosis caused by viral infections, or from the voice being overly strained. The latter is the most common cause of dysphonia in adults, and that an untreated hyperfunction voice can produce other pathologies such as nodules or polyps on the vocal cords. In addition, other factors that can trigger dysphonia: gastro reflux, smoking, infections such as laryngitis or tuberculosis, neurological disorders or tumours of the larynx.
This happens when the top part of the gullet does not relax when swallowing, the pressure causes a small hernia over time.This can cause a chronic cough, or get larger and fill up with fluids, causing infection.
Pharyngitis, or a sore throat, is the inflammation of the pharynx, which is located between the tonsils and the larynx, at the back of the mouth. It is characterised by a scratchy feeling and difficulty swallowing. Pharyngitis usually subsides within a week and is caused by a viral or bacterial infection. It causes a sore throat, fever, a rash, redness of the pharynx, swollen lymph nodes, a headache and difficulty swallowing.
Most cases tend to occur during the colder months. The condition is contagious and often spreads among family members and close contacts.
A sore throat is the main symptom of pharyngitis. Other symptoms include:
Pharyngitis is caused either a virus or bacteria, such as:
The following are risk factors for developing pharyngitis:
To prevent pharyngitis, you should avoid contact with those already infected. Some measures include:
If the cause of the pharyngitis is viral, then home care is the main treatment. It is important to stay hydrated, eat well, gargle with warm, salty water and get lots of rest. Throat lozenges and over-the-counter painkillers can also help relieve any pain or discomfort.
If it is caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotics can be prescribed, commonly amoxicillin and penicillin.
Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils that are located at the back of the throat. It is very common in children and adolescents, but adults can suffer from tonsillitis too.
If you have tonsillitis, your tonsils will be red and swollen. You will also have a combination of the following symptoms:
Tonsillitis is caused by a viruses or bacterial infection. Streptococcal tonsillitis is the most common cause. The tonsils are vulnerable to infection because they are one of the body’s first lines of defence in the immune system.
Tonsillitis can be prevented by practising good hygiene:
If your tonsillitis is caused by a virus, then at-home care is the only treatment for recovery. The following can be used to promote a quicker, more comfortable recovery:
If your tonsillitis is caused by a bacterial infection, then you will be prescribed a course of antibiotics. These must be taken as instructed, and the full course finished.
People who suffer from tonsillitis frequently are advised to have the tonsils removed.
If an abscess forms between the tonsils (this is called a quinsy), see a doctor, as this may need to be drained.
Voice disorders are disorders in sounds that depend on the larynx (vocal cords) and affect the pitch, timbre, intensity or duration. The origin of such changes can be organic, physiological, psychological or environmental. In addition, there are two types of disorders: dysphonia and aphonia. Aphonia is the total loss of voice temporarily or chronic and can be caused by overuse of the vocal cords, respiratory disease, intake of toxic or irritating products, excessive cold or nervous causes. Treatment may include resting the voice, medication, voice therapy or, in severe cases, surgery. Dysphonia is a disorder of voice intensity due to an injury in the organs of phonation (organic) or poor use of the voice (functional). The most common causes of this condition are overly straining your voice (voice hyperfunction), gastroesophageal reflux, smoking, infections such as laryngitis or tuberculosis, neurological disorders of the larynx, tumors, and trauma, among others. The treatment involves learning relaxation techniques and breathing, exercising the shoulder, neck and face muscles, and speech therapy.
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Professor Birchall talks about how chronic throat problems should be diagnosed, and the tailored treatment which should be given to each patient.
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Our expert otolaryngologist Professor Birchall talks about typical causes of voice problems, how they are dignosed and explains how hoarseness and vocal cord paralysis are treated.
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