What can I do if my baby is hoarse?

introduction

Hoarseness is not uncommon in babies, especially if they have a cold.

However, many other conditions can cause hoarseness. The problem is that hoarseness in babies is often not so noticeable and cannot be treated so easily with the measure of sparing the voice. Nevertheless, hoarseness is usually not a cause for concern in babies either, it can be treated well and usually heals without consequences.

However, if there is a suspicion of an underlying illness or if the symptoms do not improve after a while, it is always essential to consult a pediatrician.

Here you will find all the relevant information you need for your baby: Everything to do with babies

Symptoms of hoarseness in the baby

Hoarseness in children or babies is not a disease in itself, but a symptom that can occur in a variety of different diseases. Since the baby cannot speak yet, the hoarseness is usually noticeable in that the crying / screaming becomes quieter and sounds a bit hoarse.

Depending on what is causing a hoarseness, it can be accompanied by other symptoms. It is often associated with coughing and runny nose, sometimes with difficulty swallowing (which is usually noticeable in babies by poor drinking), general fatigue or fever.

Further information can also be found at: Hoarseness in children

Symptoms of hoarseness in the baby: hot head

A common cause of hoarseness in babies is loud crying. The child can shout themselves into rage and get a hot head as a result, which is harmless. A hot head can also be an indication of an increased body temperature or a fever. In such a case, the parents should take the child's temperature.In the case of a hot head without a fever, the parents do not need to take any action, but if they have a fever, they must see a doctor.

Symptoms of hoarseness in the baby: fever

Hoarseness in combination with a fever can indicate an infectious upper respiratory disease. Often the cause is a flu-like infection or a simple cold. This is characterized by a dry cough, which can lead to hoarseness, and a slight fever.

Babies and small children in particular are often affected by so-called pseudo croup. It is a viral infection that leads to an inflammation of the larynx with hoarseness.

A high fever can indicate a bacterial infection. Bacterial diseases that lead to hoarseness must in most cases be treated with antibiotics. These clinical pictures include tonsillitis, laryngitis and pneumonia. If a baby has a high fever, parents should see a doctor or hospital immediately.

Also read: Pseudo croup in the baby

Causes of hoarseness in the baby

In principle, hoarseness is caused by a disorder in the larynx, in the area of ​​the vocal folds or cords. Since the vibrations in the larynx that are necessary for voice formation require the entire apparatus to function properly, irritation, mechanical overload, nerve damage and swelling in this area are typically noticeable as hoarseness.

There are a variety of causes of hoarseness in a baby. By far the most common, however, occurs as a harbinger or accompanying circumstance in the event of a cold or flu-like infection. These are accompanied by an inflammatory reaction in which the mucous membranes store fluid and swell. However, inflammation of the throat and larynx can be triggered not only by infections, but also by allergies.

With babies in particular, it is also not uncommon for the hoarseness to arise simply from the child crying a lot. Crying itself can of course have numerous reasons, but as long as there are no pain or illnesses, this is still harmless.

But how can you recognize an emergency and how should you act if necessary? To do this, read the following article: Emergency with the child

Hoarseness when teething

Hoarseness can be a type of complication that occurs when children are teething. This occurs especially in children who experience pain from teething and who therefore cry and scream more often. Over time, this puts strain on the vocal cords and can lead to hoarseness in the baby. Occasionally, however, there is no apparent reference to an excessively crying child.

If you have additional symptoms, such as poor drinking, fever or fatigue, the pediatrician should be consulted, as an infection can also be behind the hoarseness and is incorrectly associated with teething. This also fits in with the fact that children are more susceptible to infection during teething. One reason for this is, among other things, that the wounds in the mucous membrane caused by the erupting teeth represent an easier entry and multiplication ground for various bacteria and viruses.

Teething is also physically demanding for the child. The body concentrates more and more on it, which results in a brief and slightly reduced immune defense.

You can find out more about this here: Teething in the baby

Hoarseness in the baby from crying

Prolonged screaming and crying of a baby leads to overuse of the vocal cords and hoarseness. The voice is formed in the larynx. This is an organ that is located in the front of the neck and consists of the vocal folds with the vocal cords. There is a free gap between the vocal cords. the glottis. By tensing the vocal cords and the flow of air through the glottis, the vocal cords vibrate and a sound is produced. Long and loud screaming causes the vocal cords to swell and can no longer vibrate freely. As a result, voice training is impaired and the baby is hoarse.

Babies who cry a lot and are often hoarse can develop what are known as screaming or vocal nodules. Due to the permanent overexertion of the vocal cords, these thicken and form small protrusions, the scream nodules. These benign changes prevent the vocal cords from vibrating and thus lead to voice loss. Persistent hoarseness that persists for a long time can be a sign of such vocal cord changes. In such a case, a pediatrician or an ENT specialist should be consulted who can initiate appropriate treatment.

Hoarseness in the baby from reflux

Babies can suffer from heartburn caused by reflux. Acid gastric juice flows back from the stomach into the esophagus and damages the mucous membrane there. Because the angle between the stomach and esophagus is not very large in babies, babies occasionally suffer from reflux. But this is completely normal and does not need to be treated further. Over time, the problem will go away on its own as the children grow.

However, the belching of the acidic stomach acid can damage the vocal cords and make babies hoarse. In such a case, the hoarseness does not need to be treated and disappears on its own after a short time. There are a few steps parents can take to prevent reflux from occurring. This includes feeding the baby only small portions, but more often and not wrapping it too tightly. Sitting down after eating also prevents stomach acid from flowing back.

Further important information on this topic can be found at: Reflux in the baby

Hoarseness in the baby after anesthesia

The baby may be hoarse after surgery with anesthesia. The reason for this is ventilation with a ventilation hose (tube) during the procedure. Due to the general anesthesia, the baby is not able to breathe on its own, which is why a ventilation tube is inserted. This supplies the lungs with breathing air.

Intubation can irritate or easily injure the vocal cords, causing them to swell and no longer vibrate sufficiently. As a result, the baby loses his voice and is hoarse. That is quite normal and not dangerous. The hoarseness usually disappears after two to three days.

Would you like to learn more about anesthesia in a toddler? Then also read: Anesthesia in children

Hoarseness in the baby without a cold

Hoarseness in babies is usually caused by a cold or a flu-like infection. However, a baby can be hoarse without catching a cold. In addition to mechanical overstrain caused by loud or long screaming and crying, changes in the vocal folds, such as screaming nodules, can also be a cause of hoarseness.

Another cause of hoarseness without a cold can be thrush (candidiasis). It is an infection with a yeast from the genus Cadida. Newborns and babies are particularly often affected by a thrush infection. The fungi attack the mouth (oral thrush) or the diaper area (diaper thrush). The infection can spread through the mucous membrane of the mouth to the throat and also affect the vocal cords, which limits their function and makes the baby hoarse. In addition to hoarseness, thrush can be recognized by the characteristic white, small spots on the inside of the cheeks and on the tongue. If a thrush is suspected, parents should see a pediatrician with their baby. Thrush can be easily diagnosed and treated effectively with anti-fungal drugs.

You might also be interested in:

• Oral thrush in babies
• Diaper thrush in the baby

Diagnosis

If a baby has hoarseness, the diagnosis can usually be made with a pediatrician as part of a clinical examination. First of all, parents are asked to describe the child's symptoms in detail, i.e. how long they have existed, when they appear, whether there are any other symptoms, etc.

The doctor then looks at the nose, mouth and throat and listens to the lungs with the stethoscope. If an infectious disease is suspected, a sample can be taken from which the causative pathogen can be determined.

Imaging is rarely necessary to get to the bottom of the cause of a hoarseness, as causes such as tumors are extremely rare in comparison to adults.

Therapy for hoarseness in babies

In the case of an existing hoarseness, it is important to pay attention to a few simple rules of behavior, which often ensure that the symptoms disappear on their own.

It makes sense to keep the mucous membrane of the throat as moist as possible. Adequate hydration is just as important for this as staying in an environment with not overly dry air.
If possible, you should regularly go out into the fresh air with the sick child (although cold air should be kept away from the face, for example with the help of towels). You should also actively keep the air in the interior moist at the same time, for example by placing room humidifiers here or by hanging up wet towels or laundry in the room.

As in adults, some home remedies are good for hoarseness in babies by reducing inflammation and soothing the irritated throat. Thyme, chamomile and sage, for example, all of which can be administered in the form of teas, have a good effect. With the help of these measures, hoarseness in babies usually disappears on its own after a while.

However, if worrying side effects such as fever, apathy or poor drinking occur, the therapy should definitely be placed in professional hands. Of course, if a specific condition is the cause of the hoarseness, it must be treated appropriately to get rid of the hoarseness. Often, because of the remaining cold or flu symptoms, nasal drops, antipyretic or cough suppressants are administered. If bacteria can be detected in the sample material, treatment with antibiotics is indicated.

In the event that nerve damage or a tumor has caused the hoarseness, which is extremely rare in children, appropriate steps are taken for these diseases.

Also read: Medicines for hoarseness

Home remedies for hoarseness in babies

In the case of hoarseness, the first thing that is very important is that the child drink enough fluids. Hoarseness can be a sign of an approaching or pre-existing sore throat. With the help of chamomile flowers and sage leaves, tea can be made and offered to the child to drink. Lukewarm drinks promote blood circulation in the throat, counteract dehydration of the mucous membranes and in this way help against hoarseness in the baby. Chamomile and sage also have anti-inflammatory effects.

It is also important that the child spares the irritated vocal cords. It should not scream for a long time and be calmed down as much as possible.

The air in the room should not be too dry, as this can dry out the mucous membranes and lead to hoarseness. Fresh and moist air is good for the baby's irritated throat. This can be achieved, for example, by regular ventilation and walks with the child. However, it should be ensured that the child is not lying in the draft and is warmly dressed. A couple of damp towels or other items of clothing hung to dry in the child's bedroom will also increase the humidity. Often times, it also helps the baby to inhale. You can do this with a bowl of hot water and a few essential oils dripped into it, which is placed next to the bed. However, the child should not be able to knock the bowl over or come into direct contact with hot steam and water.

Homeopathy for a child's hoarseness

Aconite (blue monkshood), can be used not only for dental problems or sleep disorders, but also for colds and hoarseness of the baby. To achieve a sufficient and long-term effect, the baby should take three pellets three times a day for about three weeks.

The globules can be offered to the child using a plastic spoon. Other homeopathic remedies that can be used for hoarseness in the baby include:

• Allium cepa (Red onion)
• Aralia racemosa (Rhizome)
• Spongia (Sea sponge).

In babies, three globules, three times a day, are usually sufficient. In general, low potencies (D1-D6) are recommended for acute illnesses. For more specific advice, a visit to a homeopath or pharmacy is recommended. However, if the baby is feverish, apathetic, or poorly drinking, the advice of a pediatrician should be sought.

Does your baby also have a fever? Then you should definitely read through the following article: Homeopathy for three days of fever