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Other Throat Disorders - Hoarseness
2007-02-03 14:57:00
Hoarseness is a general term that describes abnormal voice changes. When hoarse, the voice may sound breathy, raspy, strained, or there may be changes in volume (loudness) or pitch (how high or low the voice is). The changes in sound are usually due to disorders related to the vocal cords that are the sound producing parts of the voice box (larynx). While breathing, the vocal cords remain apart. When speaking or singing, they come together, and as air leaves the lungs, they vibrate, producing sound. Swelling or lumps on the vocal cords prevent them from coming together properly and changes the way the cords vibrate, which makes a change in the voice, altering quality, volume, and pitch.What Are The Causes Of Hoarseness?Acute Laryngitis: There are many causes of hoarseness. Fortunately, most are not serious and tend to go away in a short period of time. The most common cause is acute laryngitis, which usually occurs due to swelling from a common cold, upper respiratory tract viral in...
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Peritonsillar Abscess (Quinsy)
2007-02-03 14:57:00
The peritonsillar space lies between each tonsil and the wall of the throat. An infection can cause a pus-filled swelling (abscess) to develop in this space. Peri tonsillar abscesses, also called quinsy, usually occur as a complication of tonsillitis. They are most often caused by "strep throat" bacteria (group A beta-hemolytic streptococci).If a peritonsillar abscess is not treated promptly, the infection can spread to the neck, roof of the mouth and lungs. Swelling can push the tonsil into the center of your throat and move the uvula (the flap of tissue hanging in the back of your throat) from the center toward the unaffected side of your throat. In severe cases, swelling can make breathing difficult or can close your airway.Peritonsillar abscesses are most often found in older children, adolescents and young adults. They are less common than in the past because tonsillitis is now often treated with antibiotics, which destroy the infection-causing bacteria.SymptomsSymptoms include:...
More About: Riton , Tonsil

Laryngitis
2007-02-03 14:57:00
Laryngitis is an inflammation of your voice box (larynx) due to overuse, irritation or infection. The larynx is a framework of cartilage, muscles and mucous membranes that forms the entrance of your windpipe (trachea). Inside the larynx are your vocal cords — two folds of mucous membrane covering muscle and cartilage.Normally your vocal cords open and close smoothly, forming sounds through their movement and vibration. But in laryngitis, your vocal cords become inflamed or irritated. They swell, causing distortion of the sounds produced by air passing over them. As a result, your voice sounds hoarse. In some cases of laryngitis, your voice can become so faint as to be undetectable.Laryngitis may be short-lived (acute) or long-lasting (chronic). Although acute laryngitis usually is nothing more than an irritation and inflammation from a virus, persistent hoarseness can signal a more serious problem.Signs and symptomsLaryngitis often makes you feel the need to constantly clear your ...

The Throat
2007-01-30 12:42:00
In anatomy, the throat is the part of the neck anterior to the vertebral column. It consists of the pharynx and larynx.The throat contains various blood vessels, various pharyngeal muscles, the trachea (windpipe) and the esophagus. The hyoid bone and the Clavicle are the only bones located in the throat of mammals.Throat Related ProblemsThere are diseases that seems to affect the throat. These includeEpiglottitisEpiglottitis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the epiglottis — a small cartilage "lid" that covers the windpipe — swells, blocking the flow of air into the lungs.A number of factors can cause the epiglottis to swell, including burns from hot liquids, a direct injury to the throat, and various viral and bacterial infections. The most common cause of epiglottitis is infection with Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), the same bacterium that causes pneumonia and meningitis.Routine Hib vaccination for infants has made epiglottitis an uncommon condition, but i...