Risk factors

• Alcohol consumption, smoking
• Foods such as chocolate, spicy foods, fats, fried foods, coffee or tea
• Obesity
• Delayed stomach emptying
• Hiatus hernia

 
 

Symptoms

• Sore throat
• Snoring
• Constant need to clear the throat
• Sensation of a foreign body in throat
• Changes in the voice
• Chronic cough

Diagnosis

• Medical history and examination
• Endoscopic investigation introducing a fibroscope through the nose or mouth to look for changes in the laryngeal mucosa.

Treatment

• Modification of eating habits and lifestyle:
  Avoiding consumption of spicy, high-fat, or highly seasoned foods.
  Reducing consumption of coffee, tea, soft drinks and alcohol.
  Smoking less.
  Increasing daily fluid intake.
  Eating the last meal of the day at least 2 hours before bedtime.
  Tilting the head of the bed slightly, by about 15-20 cm.

 

• Histamine-2 receptor antagonist medication to suppress stomach acid secretion (cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine). Proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole or pantoprazole, antacids.

 

• In severe cases, surgery is considered.

Risk factors

• Having a respiratory infection
• Exposure to irritants such as tobacco smoke
• Overuse of the voice

Symptoms

• “Barking” cough which worsens significantly at night.
• Aphonia secondary to inflammation of the vocal cords.
• Stridor or whistling sound when the patient breathes in. It occurs in cases where inflammation of the vocal cords is significant and air passage is difficult. This is a sign of severity and if it occurs a doctor’s appointment should be sought immediately.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is clinical, through clinical history and examination.

Treatment

• Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or corticosteroids
• Nebulised adrenaline
• Improvement in the environment such as increasing humidity, opening windows at night.
• Avoiding eucalyptus, menthol, or other strong odours as they are irritants and can worsen airway inflammation.