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Suggest Treatment For Cough And Nasal Congestion
Question: Hello,
I am m/37. Healthy. no cigarettes or alcohol. Started developing a cold LAst Friday. On Saturday, I was teaching a course, and spoke for about 4 hours straight. By Saturday evening, I was losing my voice, and by Sunday morning, my voice was very hoarse and it was difficult to speak. It is Friday now, and my voice has recovered minimally. Still hoarse, and difficult to speak more than 5 sentences before it goes away. Associated symptoms: airway reactivity, cough that is usually dry but sometimes produces thick mucous, and nasal congestion. no other symptoms. I am worried because voice is still not getting better; I am trying to restrict how much I speak, but I am worried because I will need to lecture on Monday. Also worried about if this could be a vocal cord hemorrhage vs laryngitis. Any thoughts? Any recommendations? thank you.
I am m/37. Healthy. no cigarettes or alcohol. Started developing a cold LAst Friday. On Saturday, I was teaching a course, and spoke for about 4 hours straight. By Saturday evening, I was losing my voice, and by Sunday morning, my voice was very hoarse and it was difficult to speak. It is Friday now, and my voice has recovered minimally. Still hoarse, and difficult to speak more than 5 sentences before it goes away. Associated symptoms: airway reactivity, cough that is usually dry but sometimes produces thick mucous, and nasal congestion. no other symptoms. I am worried because voice is still not getting better; I am trying to restrict how much I speak, but I am worried because I will need to lecture on Monday. Also worried about if this could be a vocal cord hemorrhage vs laryngitis. Any thoughts? Any recommendations? thank you.
Brief Answer:
Need a laryngoscopic examination
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone through your query and can understand your concern.
Looking at your symptoms, you may be suffering from inflammation in the respiratory tract. Viral infection might be a cause.
The change in your voice might be due to laryngitis, caused by viral infection triggered by voice overuse, or it might be a vocal cord damage/hemorrhage due to voice overuse.
Both Laryngitis and vocal cord hemorrhage have same symptoms.
Only a laryngoscopic examination by an ENT Specialist will be able to find out whether it is laryngitis or vocal cord hemorrhage.
Most of the time, a vocal cord hemorrhage will heal with time except in some cases it might lead to scarring.
You may find relief with the following medications:
-Analgesic with Anti-inflammatory like Ibuprofen,
-Antacid like Ranitidine (150mg twice daily before food),
-Mucolytic like Ambroxol 10ml twice daily,
-Antihistaminic like Levocetrizine 10mg once daily at bedtime,
-Oral Decongestant like Pseudoephedrine with Nasal decongestant drops like Oxymetazoline (take decongestant only if you are not suffering from hypertension), you may need prescription from your local doctor for this.
Also strictly take voice rest for a few days. Do steam inhalation. Drink plenty of warm fluids. Avoid cold food and dust.
By following the above measures,probably your voice would be regained gradually.
It would be advisable to consult an ENT Specialist doctor for Laryngoscopy(endoscopic examination of your larynx) .
Also, it would be advisable to consult a Speech therapist who will teach you how to correctly make use of voice.As you are a lecturer/teacher who needs to use the voice much,you should no how to speak in a way that is least harmful to your vocal cords and in the correct pitch.
Hope this answers your question. I would be happy to answer if you have any follow-up questions.
Take care.
Need a laryngoscopic examination
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone through your query and can understand your concern.
Looking at your symptoms, you may be suffering from inflammation in the respiratory tract. Viral infection might be a cause.
The change in your voice might be due to laryngitis, caused by viral infection triggered by voice overuse, or it might be a vocal cord damage/hemorrhage due to voice overuse.
Both Laryngitis and vocal cord hemorrhage have same symptoms.
Only a laryngoscopic examination by an ENT Specialist will be able to find out whether it is laryngitis or vocal cord hemorrhage.
Most of the time, a vocal cord hemorrhage will heal with time except in some cases it might lead to scarring.
You may find relief with the following medications:
-Analgesic with Anti-inflammatory like Ibuprofen,
-Antacid like Ranitidine (150mg twice daily before food),
-Mucolytic like Ambroxol 10ml twice daily,
-Antihistaminic like Levocetrizine 10mg once daily at bedtime,
-Oral Decongestant like Pseudoephedrine with Nasal decongestant drops like Oxymetazoline (take decongestant only if you are not suffering from hypertension), you may need prescription from your local doctor for this.
Also strictly take voice rest for a few days. Do steam inhalation. Drink plenty of warm fluids. Avoid cold food and dust.
By following the above measures,probably your voice would be regained gradually.
It would be advisable to consult an ENT Specialist doctor for Laryngoscopy(endoscopic examination of your larynx) .
Also, it would be advisable to consult a Speech therapist who will teach you how to correctly make use of voice.As you are a lecturer/teacher who needs to use the voice much,you should no how to speak in a way that is least harmful to your vocal cords and in the correct pitch.
Hope this answers your question. I would be happy to answer if you have any follow-up questions.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Thank you for your helpful reply. I just had a couple of follow up questions:
1. how long does acute laryngitis usually last? Is this still within the time frame?
2. How urgently should I schedule with an ENT specialist? Should I wait a few more days to see if symptoms resolve or would you recommend doing it as soon as possible?
Thank you.
1. how long does acute laryngitis usually last? Is this still within the time frame?
2. How urgently should I schedule with an ENT specialist? Should I wait a few more days to see if symptoms resolve or would you recommend doing it as soon as possible?
Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Acute laryngitis may last upto two weeks
Detailed Answer:
Hi,thank you for your follow up query.
Acute laryngitis may last upto two weeks.So still you are in the time frame of Acute laryngitis.
Consulting an ENT specialist Doctor is not an emergency but it would be advisable to consult the doctor after 4-5 days,if there is no improvement.
Till then follow the measures as advised in the previous answer.
Hope this answers your question.Take care.
Acute laryngitis may last upto two weeks
Detailed Answer:
Hi,thank you for your follow up query.
Acute laryngitis may last upto two weeks.So still you are in the time frame of Acute laryngitis.
Consulting an ENT specialist Doctor is not an emergency but it would be advisable to consult the doctor after 4-5 days,if there is no improvement.
Till then follow the measures as advised in the previous answer.
Hope this answers your question.Take care.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
Answered by
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