Is acute laryngitis in children contagious?

Written by Bai Yan Hui

Pediatrics

Updated on September 24, 2024

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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

39sec

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Can acute laryngitis in children be cured?

Acute laryngitis in children is a self-healing disease, mostly caused by inflammation or injury. Controlling the inflammation or reducing the damage generally allows for self-healing. However, it is of course best to treat according to the cause during the process, eliminate the cause, and then promote the repair of the mucous membrane to achieve cure. Treatment of acute laryngitis in children generally includes symptomatic and etiological treatment. Especially, symptomatic treatment is very important, especially in reducing the severity of laryngeal obstruction.

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Written by Bai Yan Hui

Pediatrics

48sec

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How to treat acute laryngitis in children

If acute laryngitis in children is caused by a viral infection, it generally involves symptomatic treatment. If there is a fever with a temperature exceeding 38.5 degrees Celsius, or if the child appears unwell, antipyretic treatment can be administered. For persistent coughing, appropriate cough suppressants can be used for relief. Additionally, for hoarseness and throat discomfort, nebulized inhalation can be applied as symptomatic treatment. If there is a bacterial infection, antibiotics are certainly necessary to control the condition. If the acute laryngitis is caused by an injury, local symptomatic treatment can be applied to reduce the damage, followed by waiting for recovery.

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Written by Bai Yan Hui

Pediatrics

51sec

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Do children with acute laryngitis have a fever?

Acute laryngitis may occur with or without fever. For children, acute laryngitis is primarily a local symptom, but because children generally do not have robust immune function, local infections can easily lead to systemic symptoms. Among systemic symptoms, acute laryngitis frequently manifests as fever, typically presenting as either mild or high fever. It is relatively rare to see extremely high fever. Therefore, it is usually recommended that if the fever exceeds 38 degrees Celsius, or if the child appears lethargic during the fever, oral administration or rectal insertion of ibuprofen suppositories or acetaminophen suppositories can be effective treatments.

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Written by Bai Yan Hui

Pediatrics

55sec

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Chances of rescuing children with acute laryngitis

Acute laryngitis in children is mostly caused by viral infections and is self-limiting. However, severe cases of laryngitis can progress to third or fourth degree laryngeal obstruction, which are serious conditions requiring urgent treatment, including intubation or tracheotomy, the use of strong antibiotics, and the application of corticosteroids. Generally speaking, unless it is particularly severe or treatment is sought very late, it is very difficult to administer emergency treatment. For the most part, acute laryngitis in children is relatively easy to control and recover from. Therefore, it is very important to seek medical attention early and receive timely and correct treatment to avoid missing the opportunity for emergency intervention, which could lead to lifelong regrets.

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Written by Bai Yan Hui

Pediatrics

50sec

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Is acute laryngitis in children contagious?

Is acute laryngitis in children contagious? It depends on the pathogen causing the infection. If the infecting pathogen is contagious, then certainly it can be transmitted. If the infecting pathogen is not infectious, then of course it will not be contagious. Contagious examples include diphtheria, influenza virus, and Coxsackie virus, which can cause transmission, so it is important to isolate as much as possible. If it is a bacterial infection, it is generally not contagious. Therefore, one cannot simply say whether acute laryngitis in children is contagious or not; it depends on what the infection source is for this particular case to determine whether it is contagious or not.