Hoarseness in children is a vocal condition where kids experience difficulty in making a sound, speaking is accompanied with change in voice tone and quality, the throat is scratchy, and they become breathy.
Causes of Hoarseness in Babies
- Congenital causes such as laryngomalacia where the soft upper esophagus collapses inward during inhalation that causes airway obstruction.
- Laryngeal web. These are tissues that partially block the airways. Cysts, laryngeal paralysis
- Genetic disorders such as Down syndrome
- Viral infections such as those caused by adenovirus, parainfluenza, and influenza viruses.
- Bacterial infections
- Yeast infections
- Inflammation. Nodules in the vocal cords or the screamer’s or singer’s nodules accounts for ¾ of the chronic type of hoarseness.
- Vocal polyps or benign growths that require surgical intervention. They are found usually on the vocal cord.
- Allergic rhinitis
- Regurgitation of stomach contents to the esophagus
- Benign and malignant tumours
- Trauma to the vocal cords or the larynx
- Problems concerning the metabolism.
- Extensive use of vocal chords
Hoarseness Treatment and Remedies in Kids
- Get adequate rest. When the condition is caused by excessive use of the vocal cords, rest over a good period of time is the only thing to do.
- Make sure that your child will talk less or avoid shouting, crying, and excessive talking.
- Avoid whispering because it strains the vocal cords.
- Gargle with a glass of water and a half teaspoon of salt. It can increase blood circulation to the larynx.
- Humidification with a vaporizer or drinking plain water can help.
- Avoid drinking fruit juices and other beverages as it can worsen the condition by further irritating the larynx.
- If the cause is an infection, treat it first.