Hello,
Thank you for your consult at DoctorSpring.com. I can understand your problem, and will try to help you the best possible
Let me summarize the medical history ->
You had one episode of Bronchitis followed by breathing difficulty in night for a week. You are concerned about your voice.
Let me explain the disease ->
Many times after lower respiratory tract infection( like Bronchitis), while recovery we develop Recative airway disease (RAD) which may present like laryngospasm or wheezing. I think you are diagnosed and treated correctly.
At present you don’t have any problem so you don’t need any treatment now. Possibility of reactive air way disease is there after any infection of lower respiratory tract, but not very common. You need not to worry about it , in case it happens or when you get infection, you can start general measures like steam inhalation or drinking warm water. You should also inform the treating physician about it if you get any infection next time.
Treatment :
As you are a singer, you should follow vocal hygiene measures, to keep your voice quality.
Vocal hygiene instructions (Do’s & Don’ts)
Do’s
1. Drink plenty of water ( sips of water at interval of 20-30minutes)
2. Take meals at proper time
3. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables
Don’ts
1. Clear your throat frequently (swallow instead)
2. Take very hot, spices and cold food items
3. Take coffee or tea more than three times in a day
4. Smoke
5. Take alcohol, tobacco, pan etc
6. Shout or yell (use amplification system whenever necessary)
7. Speak loudly
8. Whisper! It may actually make your voice worse
9. Talk in presence of a lot of background noise
10. Try to talk or sing when you have a bad cold or throat infection
11. Sleep soon after food intake
Hope this helps. Feel free to ask if you have any further queries.
Thank you.
Regards
Dr. Sunil Jalan
MBBS, DLO,MS(ENT), DNB,DAA
Patient replied :
Thank You Doctor.
I guess I'm asking this as I've had a cold this week, (the first since my problems earlier in the year) that has lasted almost a week now. It's mainly been a mild sore throat which is more like a dry sore throat now. Also some nasal congestion (not a runny nose), a very slight cough caused by a slight throat tickle and now a weakened voice, not to the extent of it being hoarse or like Laryngitis.
My concern was that before what happened with the Bronchitis, I had never experienced anything like this before and therefore it was a big shock to me. So when you say that the possibility of reactive air way disease is there after any infection of lower respiratory tract, but not very common, is that for anyone or someone like me who has had it once before?
I'm a very paranoid person by nature so I was concerned when I heard a change in my voice with my current cold and therefore was concerned that it may happen again.
Is what you're saying that what happened to be earlier this year was an unfortunate circumstance for me, but mainly un-common for people who suffer from Bronchitis or something such as that? At the time when I was sick I was working in an office environment where there was very little regulated fresh air/air conditioning which meant it was constantly very hot and stuffy.
Thank you for you help. You are certainly helping to put me at ease as the concept of all of this is troubling me currently and it is affecting my sleep.
Hello,
Sorry, I was under impression that you are fine now. Anyway still you should complete treatment for your cold. This post nasal drip only causing irritation of throat.
Laryngospasm is not a life threatning situation, so you need not be so worried about it, if we take proper complete course of medication for cold, it will not happen to you again. Possibility of getting it is same as anybody for you, because you don't have history of asthma.
Treatment for cold includes(You can follow as advised by your locol doctor)
Cap. Amoxycillin 500 mg two times daily for 5-7 days.
Tab.Levocetrizine 5 mg with monteleukast 10 mg once daily for 10 days
Steam inhalation
Hope this helps. Feel free to ask if you have any further queries.
Thank you.
Patient replied :
Sorry Doctor, I didn't make that very clear.
My case of Bronchitis and the following Laryngospasm that I was having was aprox. 6 months ago. Since then I have had no problems at all.
This week I've been suffering a minor cold as described above and haven't had any troubles with Laryngospasm, I was just keen to understand why it happened back then and if I'm more prone to it because of last time. Am I likely to be effected by something similar with just the standard cold (sore throat, hoarse voice, minor cough, ect). Is sleeping with steam vaporiser a good idea right at this minute or not really?
Thank You.
Hello,
I can understand your doubt.
It is more likely to have laryngospasm( reactive airway) after bronchitis( which is not normal cold) but with standard cold it is very very unlikely. So you can sleep comfortably.
You can use steam vaporiser for 15 minutes and then sleep without it, rather then sleeping with it.
Hope this helps. Feel free to ask if you have any further queries.