Question
The child was fine last night, but when they woke up this morning, their voice was hoarse. It’s still like that today. They coughed a few times when they woke up, as if there was some phlegm, but couldn’t cough it out. No more coughing since then, but the voice remains hoarse. Is there any dietary therapy that the doctor might suggest?
Answer
After a cold, viruses first invade, followed by secondary bacterial infections, which can easily lead to acute inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa. This can involve the vocal cords, causing them to become congested and swollen. Additionally, with the mucosa being congested and swollen, secretions increase, becoming thick and difficult to cough up. These secretions adhere to the surface of the vocal cords, thus hindering the opening or closing movement of the cords. Therefore, hoarseness often occurs after a cold. So, it is important to actively investigate and confirm the exact cause before determining the specific medication for treatment.