Acute spasmodic laryngitis

Acute spasmodic laryngitis is a process that causes inflammation of the larynx. Typically your symptoms appear at night. It is typical in children between 1 and 3 years old and "there is not one without two", that is, they repeat over time on most occasions. The larynx is a structure that is located between the pharynx and the trachea and allows air to pass between both parts. The vocal cords are located in the larynx.

Cause

Spasmodic laryngitis does not have a clear cause, it is postulated that it may be of viral or allergic origin.

Symptoms

Typically, the symptoms start abruptly at night and the child is previously in perfect condition. The child presents: hoarseness, barking cough (like the barking of a dog), shortness of breath and stridor (whistling that occurs with each inspiration and is due to the difficulty in the air intake). The child does not have fever.

Treatment

When the child has laryngitis, the Pediatrician should assess it at the time, since the level of severity can be wide. Children improve a lot when they are exposed to the cold at night. It is for this very typical reason that children improve on the way to the nearest emergency room. The most convenient is go to the pediatrician with the car windows open, as the fresh air partly alleviates the process.

Laryngitis usually lasts between one and three days, getting worse at night. Depending on the severity, more or less powerful anti-inflammatories will be given to the child. It is essential, when the child is in full crisis, to have a calm environment, reassure him so that the feeling of overwhelm or respiratory difficulty decreases. On many occasions it is a disease that recurs after weeks. antibiotics are not indicated, since it is usually a viral or allergic process.

Warning signs

What should be watched are fundamentally two things: respiratory effort and exhaustion of the child. If the child has clear respiratory distress and purple lips, it is advisable to go to the nearest emergency center.