Caution for hoarseness exceeding three weeks
While leaving 2 years behind in the fight against the coronavirus epidemic, experts draw attention to the increase in cases of hoarseness due to coughing and throat clearing after Covid. Pointing out that patients with hoarseness problems exceeding 3 weeks after Covid or other infectious diseases should definitely apply to an otolaryngology clinic where the vocal cords are examined, Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital Otolaryngology Specialist Assist. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Necati Enver said, “When we are Covid, our vocal cords hit each other more than usual due to coughing and throat clearing due to sore throat and runny nose that we experience in all flu and colds. Just as our nose is edematous and we have difficulty breathing, the surface of our vocal cords is also edematous. Our vocal cords are like two pads that open and close in a “v” shape, and when we hit them faster by coughing, those pads become edematous and the surfaces of the vocal cords begin to be damaged. Due to this damage, the quality of the voice decreases and hoarseness occurs.”
WITHOUT INTERVENTION, THE PROBLEM CAN BECOME PERMANENT
Stating that this hoarseness should disappear within a week at most when it is caused by edema and if it does not, it may be a harbinger of a more serious problem, Enver said, “Sometimes nodules, bleeding in the vocal cord, polyps can develop due to those bumps. In that case, hoarseness can exceed 3 weeks or even longer. In such a case, it is necessary to look, see and intervene to see if there is a problem in the vocal cord. When we see it, it is easy to treat, but when we neglect it, the problems there can take root and become permanent. It is necessary to intervene before it becomes permanent, to relieve them and solve the problem.”
BE CAREFUL NOT TO COUGH TOO STRONGLY DURING SUCH PERIODS
Stating that everyone can experience hoarseness in non-covid flu and colds, Enver said the following: “If you have a persistent hoarseness after all diseases where you cough, your nose runs and your throat is inflamed, or if you have hoarseness for more than 3 weeks for any reason, even though you have never been sick, your vocal cords should definitely be examined. Even if you survive Covid very mildly, your vocal cords hit each other more due to coughing and you should try not to cough too hard during such periods. If there is hoarseness, it is necessary to use the voice as little as possible, it is most important to consume plenty of water and rest the voice. When a coughing sensation comes, it is necessary to try to suppress it by drinking water little by little and often. The things that can be done during this period are to ensure that the cough hits each other less with a breathy cough, which we call air cough. After that period passes, if the effects persist, it is enough to be examined and necessary treatment should be done before the problem gets too big.”
SUCCESSFUL RESULTS CAN BE OBTAINED IN EARLY TREATMENT
Saying that they started to see these complaints more frequently due to Covid, Enver continued as follows: “We started to see an already existing problem more frequently. If the problem in the vocal cords is nodules, we can sometimes treat it with voice therapy. If it is polypized or the problem there is more hardened, then we may need to perform surgery to remove the polyp there. In general, when we intervene in the early period, both therapy and surgery can have very successful results. Surgeries can also be performed endoscopically and microscopically through the mouth.”