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Suggest Treatment For Hoarseness Of Voice
Question: I have had a horseness in my voice for some time I thought it might be allergy (pollen) but not so sure now
Brief Answer:
may need assessment from an ENT doctor
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Allergic reaction to pollen can be a potential cause of hoarseness. This is commonly due to post nasal drip of mucus to the back of the throat.
It can occur with pollen or with any other allergens such as dust, smoke, animal dander, foods/drinks.
I had a patient who got this reaction to bananas.
Hoarseness can also be due to other causes such as: (1)infection eg the cold/flu
(2)over use of the voice
(3)cancer
(4)enlarged thyroid gland pressing on the vocal cords
(5)severe reflux
(6)some neurological diseases
Since your hoarseness has been ongoing for a long time, it may be best to be assessed by an ENT doctor.
An ENT specialist would be able to take a history of your symptoms and also would be able to take a look deep into the throat to see if there are any significant abnormal changes that are visible.
If there is a history of post nasal drip then treatment would be : avoiding allergen if known plus topical nasal sprays such as flonase, rhinocort, nasonex, nasocort
If you have a history of severe reflux then diet changes and medication would be needed (eg prevacid, protonix, prilosec, aciphex or nexium)
If neither of these is present, then the treatment would depend on what is found.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
may need assessment from an ENT doctor
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Allergic reaction to pollen can be a potential cause of hoarseness. This is commonly due to post nasal drip of mucus to the back of the throat.
It can occur with pollen or with any other allergens such as dust, smoke, animal dander, foods/drinks.
I had a patient who got this reaction to bananas.
Hoarseness can also be due to other causes such as: (1)infection eg the cold/flu
(2)over use of the voice
(3)cancer
(4)enlarged thyroid gland pressing on the vocal cords
(5)severe reflux
(6)some neurological diseases
Since your hoarseness has been ongoing for a long time, it may be best to be assessed by an ENT doctor.
An ENT specialist would be able to take a history of your symptoms and also would be able to take a look deep into the throat to see if there are any significant abnormal changes that are visible.
If there is a history of post nasal drip then treatment would be : avoiding allergen if known plus topical nasal sprays such as flonase, rhinocort, nasonex, nasocort
If you have a history of severe reflux then diet changes and medication would be needed (eg prevacid, protonix, prilosec, aciphex or nexium)
If neither of these is present, then the treatment would depend on what is found.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thank you for your response --I do have some reflux problems I
have been burping a lot--I wouldn't describe it as "severe" tho-could this be tied in with my horseness?. I haven't been talking a lot and altho I'm a singer by trade, I haven't been doing much of that lately, I used a prescribed 14 day regimin of Prilosec, but that did not stop the burping.
have been burping a lot--I wouldn't describe it as "severe" tho-could this be tied in with my horseness?. I haven't been talking a lot and altho I'm a singer by trade, I haven't been doing much of that lately, I used a prescribed 14 day regimin of Prilosec, but that did not stop the burping.
Brief Answer:
may try an alternative and see if more effective
Detailed Answer:
HI
It is possible that the reflux could be related. If the prilosec was not effective you would need to consider alternative meds in this drug family to see if one of them would work for you.
If there is no improvement after the medication is taken consistently for at least 1 week, then you may still need to consider seeing a doctor for assessment
Please feel free to ask any other questions
may try an alternative and see if more effective
Detailed Answer:
HI
It is possible that the reflux could be related. If the prilosec was not effective you would need to consider alternative meds in this drug family to see if one of them would work for you.
If there is no improvement after the medication is taken consistently for at least 1 week, then you may still need to consider seeing a doctor for assessment
Please feel free to ask any other questions
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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