Infection in vocal cords

Common Questions and Answers about Infection in vocal cords

infection

The best way for evaluation is to see a speech pathologist who specializes in voice and who can perform a videostroboscopy which is a special camera to look at the movement of the vocal cords. The speech pathologist can recommend vocal strengthening exercises and works with an ENT who can prescribe the medication if needed. Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

i was treated for vocal cord cancer 6 weeks rad and 6 weeks chemo back in aug..he didnt see anything in nov now it is a nodual appearence to the cord its self.there was marked edema the right arytenoid.. Hhe hsa moved up my pet scan a month so now im paniciking. i still smoke which i know i shouldnt.

Rarely are both vocal cords affected simultaneously, producing bilateral vocal cord paralysis/paresis (BVCP). The most common cause of bilateral vocal cord paralysis is surgical injury during thyroid surgery and neoplasm.[1 and 2] Less common causes include congenital anomalies, infection, trauma, and neurologic disorders. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?

I began to have to cough up what I thought would be just phlem.. but was also large hard chunks of something that apparently came off the vocal cords. At the same time, having to ALOT of kleenex to blow my nose and OMG.. never knew there could be so much coming out; seemed never ending! Anyway, has anyone ever experienced anything like this? I cannot remember the name of the product that the P.A.

While inhaling the vocal cords should open to let air into the lungs. With VCD the vocal cords close together during inhalation. This makes it difficult for air to get into the lungs. A lot of the same things that trigger asthma can trigger VCD including upper respiratory infections, fumes, odors, reflux, cigarette smoke, singing, emotional upset, postnasal drip and exercise. Sometimes the trigger is not known. These attacks are also often seen with anxiety.

It's been two months since I had surgery to remove a cyst and nodules on my vocal cords. Because of persistant swelling and redness in my larynx, I was on vocal rest for 7 wks. and only now can speak a little, when it's quiet. My voice is a lot higher due to the swelling, and hoarse. When I speak even for a short while my throat is very sore. I was completely compliant during vocal rest, very careful. I take meds for reflux, and stay on a pretty good diet.

I have tried everything it seems for several years to get rid of this thick mucus that comes and goes in my vocal chords. I went to an ENT again and they went down my throat with a camera and were able to show me on film the thick stringy mucus in my vocal chords.

After repeatedly being told that I have nothing wrong and seeking help for stress, I now have a physician advising that there is an actual structural basis for some of my complaints. How do you make the determination that the vocal cord paralysis is the result of a viral infection and not an actual impingement of the recurrent laryngeal nerve? Comment and observations would be greatly appreciated.

As you have stated the most common reasons for vocal cord nodules are misuse and abuse of the voice. This is a common problem for professional singers. It has also been suggested that these can come after a viral infection. These nodules have not been described as being due to allergies. So it is not likely that your allergy to dust mites has caused the growth of nodules on your vocal cords.

Tough problems with the paralyzed vocal chord. You really have to watch what you eat. I have bad acid reflux with it and choking and coughing. Can't lay down and sleep, which I hate. Thyroid levels are off right now. Will get them changed tomorrow. Looking forward to becoming me again. Hope that is soon. Thanks for the emails, I appreciate them.

old mother diagnosed by scope with left sided vocal cord paralysis. CT w/contrast proved uneventful according to radiologist report............ Previous history of bacterial infection in toe of left foot; leading to a PIC line being installed for 7-8 weeks to cure that up....... and review X-rays/follow up confirmed this cleared. ***My question - I have heard that some sort of virus can attack the nerve to the vocal cord and in effect .....paralize it.

Hi Monnie, I had lots of respitory , ear and a wicked vocal cord infection while on tysabri. I do think it was due to tysabri, as did my neurologist.

There is almost nothing about vocal cord polyps available on the web, and all of it is terrifying. Is there a possibility that the recurrent sinus infections and dripping caused the vocal cord polyp? How often do vocal cord polyps turn out to be cancerous - especially in no-smokers who don't drink and are under 50? Thanks!

Clearing the excessive phlegm is part of the healing process and the phlegm will decrease until it goes away. Clearing your throat can irritate your throat and vocal cords. When you feel the need to clear your throat sip some water to clear the phlegm. Instead of clearing your throat, wait until the phlegm rises and then cough it out. The tea and the water that you are drinking will help with this by thinning the phlegm so that it moves easier.

Is it possible that my nasal polyps have grown into my throat, or that I also have polyps on my vocal cords? I know that for a strep throat antibiotics is indicated and I've made an appointment at my doctor, but due to inconvenience the appointment couldn't been made before Monday. I'm keeping myself relative stable with 500 mg paracetamol (NSAID), but perhaps you know of other stuff I could use to keep myself stable until Monday?

My ent who basically has been useless did take a look a said there was atremendous amount of plemg wrapped around my vocal cords so I'm assuming that partly what I'm coughing up. this is so out of control now and I have been trough all the testing and antihistimines and allgery test ct scans are normal yet I cough up chunks of green intermittenly so I believe the infection is still there. In the past few months I have run fevers and have been on levequin and prednisone.

Being unable to sing to your fullest suggests a vocal cord or laryngeal problem, not caused by bronchitis. If you are raising a lot of mucous that is getting hung-up in your throat, this could also affect the quality of your singing voice. Cough, whatever the cause, can make anyone dizzy. Sometimes people even faint when they cough. The dizziness is not a sign of something worse going on.

Also, trying to clear your throat can cause nodules and strain to your vocal cords. Go see an ENT to have them directly visualize your vocal cords with a laryngoscope.

The other causes needed to be ruled out are benign vocal cord growth, vocal fold granuloma, and vocal cord paralysis. I suggest you to consult an ENT specialist. Take care and regards.

The other possibility is that your limited voice may be due to vocal cord palsy or paralysis or to vocal cord nodules. In addition, it is a common empirical observation that attempts to sing, before the infection/inflammation has cleared can delay resolution for days, weeks or more. Not having insurance is a rough situation, but as soon as you are insured, you should see an ENT specialist for direct examination using a fiberoptic laryngoscope.

Another possibility would be that the throat infection had spread to your vocal cords, resulting in what is called vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) and that this, not your asthma is responsible for the persistent wheezing. So, what should be done. Several things: 1) repeat throat examination and culture, 2) testing to see if your doctor is right about the “vocal cord problems.

Reflux, cough, vocal cord/laryngeal lesions (polyps, nodules, edema, tumors), vocal cord paralysis, post nasal drip/secretions, vocal cord irritation or infections. An exam of your vocal cords by an ent would be helpful to better assess your problem. Good luck.

Cheerleaders, singers, teachers all can develop nodules simply the overuse, or in a rock singers' case, abuse of the vocal cords. Try some vocal rest. The very worst thing you can do is talk, and whispering is a no-no. Talking is something we do by "habit" so we usually don't support that sound with adequate breath support. If you find that it is getting worse, you can find an ENT (Ear, nose, throat doc) in your area, and try to find one that specializes in singers.

An ENT may look into your larynx with a laryngoscope to see if there's any polyps or other changes in your vocal cords causing them to be easily strained and predisposed to lead to larynitis. Infection, straining your voice (not providing enough volume of breath to support vocalization), clearing your throat, GERD, post-nasal drip, and many other reasons can predispose to laryngitis.

Three years ago I had a cordotomy to give some flexibility to one vocal cord. The other is totally paralyzed; the second is approximately 70% paralyzed. (Doctors suspect a viral infection.

Today I woke up almost unable to speak. The postnasal drip is still present, but my vocal cords seem to be covered with phlegm. No matter how much I clear my throat or cough, I cannot clear out my throat and my voice is almost gone. I am taking Mucinex, Advair, Singulair, Xyzal, and Combivent (when necessary). My family doctor has diagnosed this as a sinus infection, but I have had no headaches or tooth pain. He has put me on antibiotics, which don't seem to be helping.

Lung and heart function are good. One other thing, which I'm not sure is related, is that I have a paralyzed vocal cord which developed (also after a respiratory infection) about 17 years ago.

Dr Lupo My daughter had thyroid cancer eleven years ago at age 23 and had the thyroid partially removed. She learnt a year ago that one of her vocal cords isn't working. She is now 36 weeks pregnant and her voice has gone back to how it sounded after the operation - very weak and breathy. She has had problems withh pelvic girdle pain through most of the pregnancy - which is a loosening of the ligaments getting ready for childbirth.

The drainage comes down during the night and affects the vocal cords. Once you are up and moving about and have had some fluids, this clears up. Please check with your doctor to see what can be done to control the drainage.

Recommended

MedHelp Health Answers

Submit