What causes acute laryngitis in children?

Written by Bai Yan Hui
Pediatrics
Updated on September 01, 2024
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Pediatric acute laryngitis is generally considered to be an infection, with viral infections being most common, accounting for about 80% of cases. This includes respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, and Coxsackievirus, all of which can cause acute laryngitis. Of course, there are also cases caused by bacterial infections, with gram-positive bacteria being more common. Additionally, special circumstances such as procedures, gastroscopy, bronchoscopy, etc., can cause laryngeal injuries, or the ingestion of irritant food items might also damage the laryngeal tissues, subsequently leading to symptoms of laryngitis.

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Written by Bai Yan Hui
Pediatrics
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Is acute laryngitis in children contagious?

The situation varies depending on the cause. If it is acute laryngitis caused by an injury, it is not contagious. However, if it is caused by an infection, such as by the epidemic influenza virus, or by Bordetella pertussis causing acute laryngitis, these infectious diseases cause inflammation of the larynx and are contagious. Or in cases of general bacterial and viral infections, there can be cross-infection, but they are not contagious.

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Written by Bai Yan Hui
Pediatrics
54sec home-news-image

What causes acute laryngitis in children?

Pediatric acute laryngitis is generally considered to be an infection, with viral infections being most common, accounting for about 80% of cases. This includes respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, and Coxsackievirus, all of which can cause acute laryngitis. Of course, there are also cases caused by bacterial infections, with gram-positive bacteria being more common. Additionally, special circumstances such as procedures, gastroscopy, bronchoscopy, etc., can cause laryngeal injuries, or the ingestion of irritant food items might also damage the laryngeal tissues, subsequently leading to symptoms of laryngitis.

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Written by Bai Yan Hui
Pediatrics
46sec home-news-image

Does acute laryngitis in children require hospitalization?

Acute laryngitis in children is a common illness, and most cases do not require hospitalization. They can be managed in the outpatient clinic with oral medication and nebulization. However, if laryngeal obstruction occurs, especially at the second degree or higher, hospitalization is necessary. Laryngeal obstruction is considered a pediatric emergency, which can quickly worsen, leading to difficulty breathing. Some cases may even require intubation or a tracheotomy as emergency procedures. Delayed medical attention or hospitalization could potentially be life-threatening. Therefore, depending on the severity of the child's condition, hospitalization may be required.

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Written by Bai Yan Hui
Pediatrics
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The symptoms of acute laryngitis in children

First and foremost, the most typical symptom is hoarseness of voice, with accompanying symptoms varying depending on the severity of the laryngitis, and symptoms differ. Generally, mild cases may present with cough or fever; a few children might also have gastrointestinal symptoms, such as vomiting and diarrhea. If there is laryngeal obstruction, some signs of hypoxia will appear, such as cyanosis, intermittent stridor, profuse sweating, the three-concavity sign, flaring of the nostrils, listlessness, and even some convulsive symptoms.

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Written by Bai Yan Hui
Pediatrics
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Does acute laryngitis in children recur?

Acute laryngitis in children can recur, similar to tonsillitis. Some children may have inherently lower immune function in the larynx, or a relative defect, which makes them prone to inflammation in the larynx whenever there is an upper respiratory infection. Therefore, we generally inform parents that if the child has a history of laryngitis, they should be aware of this condition in the future, especially of sudden respiratory difficulty at night and hoarseness. It is important to pay attention as laryngitis tends to worsen at night, and if it occurs, we recommend seeking medical attention promptly.