"Doctor, I've had a sore throat for half a month, like a razor blade" "My throat is very dry and itchy, and I can't stop coughing" "In addition to my uncomfortable throat, I don't have a runny nose, fever, or sleepiness, it shouldn't be the flu, right?" The reporter learned from clinicians in the respiratory department and otolaryngology department of many hospitals in Zhejiang that the number of patients seeking medical treatment for throat discomfort has increased recently.
In public places, coughing can often be heard, and there are more people clearing their throats, and doctors remind people to be alert to laryngitis if the throat is uncomfortable, and seek medical attention in time if the symptoms are serious.
It is understood that pharyngitis is a common throat disease, which refers to the inflammatory reaction that occurs in the mucosa of the throat and the surrounding lymphatic tissue.
Zhou Guojin, an otolaryngology-head and neck surgeon at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, said that 70% to 80% of laryngitis is caused by viruses, such as influenza, new coronavirus infection, and streptococcal infection. In addition to viruses, laryngitis can also be caused by irritation by bacteria or substances such as dust and smoke, or allergic rhinitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
The doctor explained that in autumn and winter, the climate is dry and cold, and the air humidity is low, when the cold air hits, the nasal mucosa is irritated, and the ability to resist the invasion of external germs is reduced, and pathogenic bacteria are more likely to invade the respiratory tract and induce respiratory diseases.
Acute laryngitis has an acute onset and presents with itching, burning, or mild pain in the pharynx, and may rapidly develop a coarse or hoarse voice, often accompanied by fever, dry cough, or a small amount of mucus sputum. Zhou Guojin said that chronic laryngitis is mainly manifested by mucus in the pharynx that cannot be vomited, dry cough and throat clearing from time to time, dry throat that is difficult to relieve, and a feeling of foreign body blockage in the throat.
Experts say that although severe laryngitis is rare, it carries a risk of airway obstruction and can be life-threatening in severe cases, so it's important to learn to recognize red flags. When there is a persistent high fever, sore throat for more than 7 days without any improvement, respiratory distress, swelling of the throat, etc., it means that there may be some risks for the disease causing the sore throat and it is necessary to seek medical attention in time.
For how to relieve a sore throat, doctors recommend oral painkillers, eat some icy or throat-moisturizing food, drink plenty of water, improve air humidity, and stay away from secondhand smoke, which can all have a certain relief effect.
*: Xinhua News Agency reporter Huang Xiao.