Symptoms of reflux laryngitis
Dec 29, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Liwen
Introduction
If laryngopharyngeal reflux is present, symptoms generally include throat discomfort, itching, and dry cough. Laryngopharyngeal reflux is primarily caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and reflux gastritis, often accompanied by frequent regurgitation of acidic stomach contents. Gastric acid is highly irritating, and its repeated exposure to the throat can easily lead to inflammation, infection, and symptoms of throat discomfort.
In daily life, many people suffer from pharyngitis, experiencing symptoms such as sore and swollen throats that significantly affect their everyday activities. One type of pharyngitis is known as reflux pharyngitis. So, what are the symptoms of reflux pharyngitis?
Symptoms of Reflux Pharyngitis
Individuals with reflux pharyngitis typically experience discomfort in the throat, itching, dry cough, and similar symptoms. This condition is primarily caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or reflux gastritis, often accompanied by frequent regurgitation of acidic stomach contents. Gastric acid is highly irritating, and when it repeatedly comes into contact with the throat, it easily causes inflammation and infection in the pharynx, leading to persistent throat discomfort. While treating pharyngitis with medication, it's also essential to address the underlying gastric condition to control the root cause.
Reflux pharyngitis may lead to symptoms such as dry throat, a sensation of a foreign body in the throat, burning sensation, excessive throat mucus, and frequent throat clearing. These symptoms are often very persistent in clinical practice. In most cases, early treatment with standard oral medications for pharyngitis shows limited effectiveness. Only regular use of acid-suppressing medications can effectively relieve symptoms. Without systematic treatment, some patients may develop mucosal hyperplasia in the throat, increasing the risk of vocal cord leukoplakia, granuloma formation, and even laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer. The primary mechanism involves gastric acid irritation causing squamous metaplasia of the mucosal epithelium, which has the potential to undergo malignant transformation.
In daily life, individuals with pharyngitis should take good care of their voice, consume more throat-soothing foods, and avoid overly spicy foods to prevent further damage to the throat. We hope this information is helpful to you. Wishing you good health and a happy life!
