What does a burned throat look like?

The throat is particularly sensitive, and even the slightest injury causes discomfort and pain. With a serious burn to the throat, not only the surface of the mucous membranes can be damaged, but also tissues and organs that lie deeper. Children and careless or very quick people are especially at risk for this type of burn. To avoid injuries of this kind, you should follow simple safety rules, be careful and avoid haste in everyday activities. For example, you can easily get, although not significant, but still an unpleasant throat injury in the morning, rushing to work in a hurry to take a large sip of tea that has not cooled down to a safe temperature. The food gets burned precisely because of the rush. Chemicals and their vapors can also cause this disease. Such dangerous things should be stored out of the reach of children, in securely closed containers that should be signed. It is better to treat minor burns of the throat mucosa under the supervision of a physician. It would be a good idea to know what to do if you have a throat burn.

Distinctive characteristics

The throat is most vulnerable to various types of injuries, including burns, since its delicate tissue structure is highly sensitive and can be easily damaged.

A burn in the throat is different in that it is internal and affects the larynx, palate and esophagus. The extent of damage depends on the severity of the injury. The burned area cannot be covered with a bandage, and the injured areas are difficult to reach for treatment. With this type of damage, the swallowing reflex may disappear for a long time, which will make it impossible to eat food naturally.

With such damage, the following are felt: Acute pain, increased salivation, increased body temperature, the affected area of ​​the throat burns, the person may feel sick, dry cough, hoarseness, swelling of the affected area, swollen lymph nodes, lack of oxygen.

In very dangerous stages, bleeding wounds, blisters appear, the upper layers of tissue are severely damaged, painful shock and respiratory collapse may occur.

Causes

Thermal burn affects the throat when ingesting hot food or drink, and chemical burn when the throat is exposed to medications, alcohol, acids or chemicals.

The main causes of this type of damage are negligence and carelessness when interacting with hot liquids, food, as well as chemicals, alcohol-containing liquids and medications of a certain group.

Alcohol and alcohol. The risk group primarily includes socially vulnerable citizens suffering from addiction, who consume alcohol-containing liquids and low-quality alcoholic beverages for other purposes.

Damage from alcohol-containing liquids occurs if the alcohol concentration in them is more than 70 percent. This is the easiest type of lesion, since a membrane forms on the mucous membrane that does not allow alcohol to penetrate deep into the surface layer of the epithelium. If alcohol penetrates into the esophagus, a white coating of dead tissue cells appears on its internal surfaces.

The injury is accompanied by the following manifestations: pain in the chest and cervical region, weakness appears in the stomach, and the sensitivity of taste buds is dulled.

Hospitalization, if the esophagus is not damaged, is not required and after some time the tissue cells will recover on their own.

Hot food and liquid. Most often, the throat is burned by hot tea or food, as well as by inhalation of hot steam. Thermal burn of the throat occurs in most cases and does not pose a great danger if it does not penetrate into the deep layers of the mucous membrane. But it all depends on the temperature of the food, steam or drink ingested and on the time of action of the hot agent.

Children are most susceptible to these types of injuries. Therefore, to prevent a child from getting a burn on the palate from hot food, you should always check the temperature of the food served on the table.

There are three degrees of burn injury:

1. First degree. Acute pain, the mucous membrane turns red.
2. Second degree. The appearance of a gray-white plaque with liquid blisters.
3. Third degree. Tissue death is observed.

The first and second degrees of severity are the most common and with proper treatment, regeneration of damaged areas occurs quickly. Grade 3 is very rare, it is the most difficult and can only be treated in a hospital.

Burn of the larynx by gastric juice. In diseases accompanied by the release of bile, you can get injury to the larynx caused by gastric juice.

Symptoms of damage: sharp pain, irritation of the mucous membrane, a feeling of chest compression, gag reflex, heartburn, increased formation of bile after eating heavy food.

Chemical burn and its signs

Chemicals such as acids and alkalis, as well as their vapors, if they enter through the oral cavity or nasopharynx, cause this type of injury. You should also be very careful with medications, for example, iodine or Lugol, which can cause chemical damage.

Chemical injuries are more dangerous than thermal ones, since after ingestion they have a destructive effect on tissue cells for a long time. The general symptoms of the chemical type are basically the same as for thermal injury: acute pain, the mucous membrane becomes red, and a strong burning sensation is felt.

When lubricating the throat during inflammation of the tonsils, there is a chance of getting a throat burn with Lugol if it is highly concentrated.

During radiotherapy of the mucous membrane, if the dosage of the drugs is not observed, a burn from electrophoresis is possible. To prevent this from happening, you must know the list of contraindications for this procedure.

A burn of the larynx by gastric juice also refers to a chemical type of injury, but is classified as a separate type.

First aid for burns of the trachea and throat

It is advisable for every person to know the procedure for emergency actions in case of a throat burn and what to do in such cases, as well as how and how to treat it.

Providing first aid consists, first of all, of quickly and competently providing it, a lot depends on it. The more quickly it is provided, the faster and easier the treatment will be.

First of all, the patient must be given cool water to drink. Afterwards you need to treat the affected area with an anesthetic.

If the injury is caused by acid, then you need to dilute 2 grams of baking soda in a liter of water and give this solution to the injured person to drink.

In case of damage due to exposure to alkali, for oral administration you need to dilute 3 grams of acetic or citric acid in a liter of water

First aid for a throat burned by iodine is simple. It is enough to rinse for 15 minutes with boiled water at a temperature of 16-18 degrees, and then apply a sugar solution to the damaged area.

In the room, you need to open a window to let air in and call an ambulance.

Further treatment

Treatment at home. Treatment of such ailments in a mild form can be carried out at home, since there is no threat to the life and health of the victim, and the treatment is not complicated.

1st and 2nd degree burn injuries to the throat are not very dangerous and can be easily treated at home. It can be treated both with the use of medications and by resorting to folk remedies. Typically, rosehip oil is used, and when gargling, soothing, healing herbs are used. But still, before treating a burn in the throat, it is strongly recommended to consult a doctor.

Means for treating a burn of the larynx with boiling water.

In this case, drugs of the following types are used: almagel, phosphalugel, de-nol, rennie, methyluracil, motilium, gaviscon, vitamins A and E, lanza and nolpaza.

All these drugs are available, but consultation with a doctor is necessary.

Hospital treatment. The most dangerous injuries of this type are classified as third degree and are treated only under the close supervision of doctors and only in a hospital.

A laryngeal burn is damage to the walls of the larynx caused by inhalation of hot or caustic gases or suspended substances. This pathology is most often combined with burns of the lips, oral cavity, pharynx and esophagus.

Amphetamine often causes damage to the nasal mucosa. If the effect of the causative factor is too strong, the mucous membrane of the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles is also damaged. In this case, they speak of a combination of burns of the upper and lower respiratory tract.

Causes

Depending on the cause, there are two types of respiratory tract burns:

Thermal burns of the larynx are a consequence of exposure to high temperatures on the respiratory tract.

Pathology can develop when:

1. accidental or intentional ingestion of very hot liquid (water, tea, milk, broth, etc.);
2. inhalation of hot steam or air (for example, during inhalation over a pan of boiling water).

Chemical burns are caused by inhalation or ingestion of concentrated chemical solutions.

The most common damages are:

1. iodine (with an increase in the concentration of the medicine in home-made gargling solutions);
2. vinegar essence;
3. citric acid;
4. inorganic acids (especially hydrochloric, sulfuric, nitric);
5. caustic soda;
6. acetone;
7. ethyl or methyl alcohol;
8. narcotic substances (amphetamine);
9. biological fluids (stomach juice with GERD - regular reflux of acidic gastric contents into the esophagus and respiratory tract).
10. essential oils and irritating substances of plants (burn of the mucous membrane of the larynx with pepper, mustard).

Moreover, chemicals act not only when they enter the body, but also for some time until they are neutralized. Acid burns cause so-called coagulation (dry) necrosis - rapid folding of the proteins of the laryngeal wall, the formation of a dry burn crust. As a rule, the damage affects only the tissues located in the upper part of the larynx, and a burn of the epiglottis and arytenoid cartilages is diagnosed (see Cartilages of the larynx - anatomy of structural formations).

Alkali forms colliquation (wet) necrosis, in which the inner wall of the organ softens and becomes loose. This provokes the penetration of the chemical into the lower respiratory tract and the development of gross, extensive changes.

Note! Most often, burn injuries occur in everyday life due to improper use of medicines and chemical agents. Alcohol intoxication and childhood increase the risk of developing pathology. Work-related injuries are the second most common.

Clinical picture

Symptoms of a burn to the larynx largely depend on the cause of the injury, the degree of damage, the location of the pathological process and the general condition of the body.

Immediately after a burn injury to the larynx, a person may have the following complaints:

1. unbearable, excruciating pain when swallowing;
2. constant burning in the pharynx and pharynx, intensifying with inhalation;
3. salivation;
4. nausea, profuse vomiting;
5. a sharp increase in body temperature to 38-38.5 degrees;
6. swelling of the tissues of the pharynx and larynx;
7. changes in voice, which becomes hoarse, muffled;
8. enlarged and painful lymph nodes;
9. in case of a burn with a chemical substance – a characteristic chemical odor from the mouth;
10. in severe cases - suffocation, bleeding, a sharp drop in blood pressure, shock, collapse, depression of consciousness, coma.

There are 3 degrees of burn reaction:

1. First degree – the burn is superficial, there is no general reaction of the body. Tissue damage appears as uneven white and red swollen areas of the laryngeal mucosa. 2-3 days after the injury, they begin to be rejected, exposing the damaged pinkish-red mucosa, which is then covered with healthy cells.
2. Second degree – deeper damage, characterized by damage not only to the mucous, but also to the submucosal layers. Upon examination, the burn looks like redness and swelling of the laryngeal wall with areas of mucosal rejection, a white-gray coating and blisters.

Symptoms of intoxication are pronounced (fever, weakness, drowsiness, lack of appetite). After a few days, the damaged tissue peels off, revealing erosions and ulcers. With proper treatment, after 1-2 weeks they heal almost without scars.

1. Third degree – a serious burn, during which necrosis (death) of the deep layers of the laryngeal wall occurs with the formation of ulcers and granulations. Symptoms of intoxication are very pronounced, the patient requires hospital treatment. During the healing of erosions, bleeding often occurs.

Isolated 1st and even 2nd degree burns of the larynx in adults do not pose a serious threat to health. The only thing that brings discomfort is severe pain when swallowing, which with proper treatment goes away after 4-5 days. Extensive and deep burn injuries to the respiratory and digestive systems are much more dangerous.

Principles of diagnosis and therapy

Treatment of a laryngeal burn should begin as soon as possible after the injury. Follow a simple algorithm.

Step 1: Seek medical help

Call an ambulance immediately, briefly describing what happened to the operator.

Step 2: Determining the cause of the larynx injury

While the ambulance is driving, try to determine what caused the victim's burn.

This may help:

1. interviewing the victim and his immediate family;
2. inspection of the scene of the incident;
3. characteristic odor from the mouth or vomit.

Burns caused by various chemicals have their own characteristics:

1. Vinegar, alcohol, and phenol have a strong odor that can be felt even from a distance. Diagnosis of damage to the larynx by these substances usually does not cause difficulties.
2. A burn of the larynx with citric acid (or other odorless acids) provokes rapid necrosis of proteins with the formation of a scab. When examining the oral cavity and in the vomit, you can notice crusts and pieces of burned dead tissue of white, yellow or brown color.
3. Alkalies decompose protein molecules and emulsify fats, so vomit when the larynx is damaged by caustic soda or caustic soda has an oily appearance and contains pieces of rejected mucous.
4. Iodine also has its own characteristic odor, and the mucous membrane of the mouth and vomit acquire a brown or bluish tint.

Step 3. Providing first aid

Immediately after determining the cause of the injury, begin emergency measures:

Step 4: Emergency Medical Care

After the arrival of an ambulance, examination of the victim by doctors and assessment of vital functions, the issue of the need for hospitalization is decided. Any chemical burn of the respiratory tract is a reason for treatment in a hospital.

Before hospitalization, doctors flush the stomach with a nasogastric tube to stop the damaging effects of acid or alkali on the digestive organs. For severe pain, injections of painkillers (Ketanov, Tramadol) are prescribed.

Step 5. Inpatient treatment for laryngeal burns

Therapy for 2nd and 3rd degree burns of the larynx involves the appointment of:

1. Analgesics to reduce pain. The most common of them are presented in the table below:

Relieves pain of moderate to high intensity

Does not cause dependence when used in the dosage prescribed by the instructions for use

Use with caution in patients with chronic liver and kidney diseases

Acts quickly and effectively

Can be addictive with long-term therapy

Negatively affects hematopoiesis

Contraindicated for long-term therapy

Indicated for pain of mild to moderate intensity

Note! Narcotic analgesics are taken only when absolutely necessary under strict medical supervision.

1. Sedatives for severe agitation of the victim.
2. Antibiotics to prevent infection.
3. Oil solutions for irrigation of damaged laryngeal mucosa.

All patients, without exception, are prescribed a diet that includes cold liquid or semi-liquid food (porridge, puree). Also, a thermal or chemical burn of the laryngeal mucosa involves applying cold compresses to the neck area, gentle on the voice.

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Burns of the larynx occur as a result of the same reasons as burns of the pharynx: ingestion and aspiration of caustic liquids, inhalation of caustic vapors and hot smoke from a fire. The trachea and bronchi may be affected at the same time. In this case, a burn to the oral cavity inevitably occurs.

Damage resulting from ingestion of hot and caustic liquids (acids and alkalis) is limited, in addition to burns of the oral cavity and oropharynx itself, to the epiglottis, aryepiglottic folds and the area of ​​the arytenoid cartilages. Burns caused by inhalation of hot or corrosive gases extend to the larynx, trachea and bronchi and are called thermal or chemical burns of the upper respiratory tract.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5]

ICD-10 code

Symptoms of a burn to the larynx

Burns of the upper respiratory tract cause dysphagia, dysphonia, and respiratory failure as a result of burn damage to tissues and severe swelling. Often, as a result of a sharp pain syndrome, the victim experiences a state of shock, fraught with the danger of respiratory arrest. As a result of the inflammatory reaction and pronounced extravasation from the burn surface, abundant mucopurulent sputum appears, often mixed with blood. With deep burns, fragments of necrotic tissue may be released along with sputum.

Diagnosis of a burn of the larynx

During laryngoscopy, attention is drawn to sharp hyperemia of the mucous membrane of the larynx, blisters and ulcers covered with a grayish-white coating. Deep burns of the larynx can cause perichondritis and necrosis of the internal structures of the larynx, up to the melting of its internal muscles. In severe cases, the epiglottis and arytenoid cartilages may become necrotic, followed by scarring of the entrance to the larynx and the occurrence of its stenosis.

[6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15]

What needs to be examined?

How to examine?

Treatment of burns of the larynx

Treatment of burns of the larynx is a complex, lengthy process and not always effective enough in relation to the consequences of this injury. For chemical burns, alkaline spraying is prescribed in a mixture with solutions of proteolytic enzymes to dilute the drying exudate and release it. Spraying a 2% solution of cocaine with adrenaline is also used to reduce the severity of pain. The use of opiates is contraindicated. For thermal and chemical burns of the larynx, cold compresses are recommended on the anterior surface of the neck, intravenous administration of calcium chloride, injections of diphenhydramine, sedatives, antibiotics with hydrocortisone, which prevents the occurrence of secondary infection, swelling of the larynx and, to a certain extent, cicatricial stenosis.

What is the prognosis for a laryngeal burn?

In mild cases, a burn of the larynx has a favorable prognosis. In severe cases, when concentrated acid or alkali enters the stomach, the patient dies from renal failure within a few days.

Surviving patients develop extensive cicatricial stenosis of the pharynx, larynx, and esophagus, which require long-term treatment, including surgery.