Question
My baby is 26 months old and recently I’ve noticed a slight hoarseness in their throat. It’s not very noticeable, and there are no signs of a cold, pain, or itching. Should I be concerned?
Answer
Chronic laryngitis is one of the common pediatric diseases, especially among preschool children. The main symptom is hoarseness, which is characterized by recurrent episodes that vary in intensity and does not cause difficulty in breathing. The primary causes of such chronic laryngitis include excessive or unreasonable use of the voice, as well as other chronic respiratory inflammation. For example, children may overuse their voices while singing or reading aloud, or shout loudly during play, and long-term coughing, nasal congestion, and runny nose can also lead to damage to the vocal cords or the formation of vocal nodules, thereby affecting their voice. Treating chronic laryngitis first involves using antibiotics and hormones during the acute phase of hoarseness, as well as allowing the child’s vocal cords to rest sufficiently. However, this can be quite challenging to implement. Therefore, preventing chronic laryngitis is more important than treatment. Teachers should understand the physiological hygiene knowledge of children’s voice production and avoid loud shouting during singing or reading aloud. They should also treat chronic coughs promptly and regularly provide children with water to prevent throat dryness and inflammation. Additionally, hoarseness may be caused by other factors. If hoarseness persists for a long time, consider the possibility of laryngeal tumors. The most common type of laryngeal tumor in children is the papilloma, which may affect the vibration of the vocal cords and requires further examination for confirmation. Before receiving a diagnosis and treatment recommendation from a professional doctor,