After waking up, my throat was' ruined '! "" This wave of flu started from my throat, hoarseness, sore throat, and then I had a fever and cough. "Recently, many people have shared their symptoms after being infected with the flu virus on social media. Why do people feel more hoarse this year? What if I feel uncomfortable in my throat? Xie Gaoyi, Deputy Chief Physician of the Second Department of Hunan Provincial Occupational Disease Prevention and Control Institute (Affiliated Occupational Disease Prevention and Control Institute of Nanhua University), will explain and provide guidance for everyone. The problem of "hoarse throat" has become a concern for many patients. Recently, Ms. Liu, a citizen, suddenly had a hoarse voice when she woke up in the morning. She thought that the dry weather was causing discomfort in her throat and kept drinking water, but unexpectedly did not recover for a whole day. The next night, she began to have a high fever for four or five consecutive nights, and her throat gradually improved after the fever subsided. I haven't breathed a sigh of relief yet, and my family has also been hit. My husband, Mr. Wu, has a sore throat and has been singing like a duck all day. I went to the hospital for examination and found out that I had the flu. Recently, there has been a high incidence of influenza, and many people have reported symptoms such as hoarseness and severe sore throat, accompanied by discomfort such as fever and cough. "Scrapped throat" has become a problem for many patients. Compared to previous years where fever, cough, and muscle soreness were the main symptoms, this round of flu is particularly noticeable in the throat. Many people wonder, isn't the flu mainly harmful to the lungs? How did it start causing trouble in the throat? The sudden hoarseness of the voice is actually a small change in the attack path of the flu virus this time. Xie Gaoyi introduced that "hoarseness" is not a unique manifestation of influenza, but a clinical manifestation of upper respiratory tract infection, and its severity is related to individual differences, immune status, and infection intensity. If the virus invasion is concentrated in the nasopharynx, it may be mainly characterized by nasal congestion and runny nose. If the virus mainly invades the throat, hoarseness will be more prominent. The vocal cords are the "strings" of the throat, and once swollen, the sound will change pitch. The vocal cords themselves do not have capillaries and rely on surrounding tissues for blood supply. Once infected, a local swelling can easily compress the airway, which is why some patients may feel difficulty breathing and tightness in the chest while losing their voice. Especially in children and the elderly, vocal cord stenosis, once swollen, even mild inflammation may cause significant vocal cord dysfunction. Why do people feel more hoarse this year? Xie Gaoyi explained that on the one hand, the current popular influenza virus is the H3N2 strain, which is a subtype of virus that is more likely to invade the upper respiratory tract. It has a stronger affinity for the nasal cavity, throat, and trachea, leading to more severe local inflammation and even more vocal cord disease. Moreover, in recent years, the H1N1 H3N2 strain has been less prevalent, and the population has weaker immunity to it, resulting in relatively more obvious symptoms after infection. On the other hand, whether it is influenza virus or other respiratory viruses such as parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, etc., their main invasion sites are in the upper respiratory tract, including the throat and vocal cord area. When viral infection causes swelling and inflammation of the throat mucosa or vocal cords, it can lead to hoarseness and even temporary inability to speak. In addition, factors such as dryness in winter, cold air stimulation, and insufficient ventilation are more likely to induce laryngeal inflammation. Some patients may have allergic throat reactions, and this group of people is more likely to experience vocal cord hypersensitivity after viral infection. Mild stimulation can cause persistent loss of voice. If the patient already has underlying allergic diseases such as rhinitis, pharyngitis, asthma, etc., the probability of throat problems will be higher. The symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections are diverse, and this year, with the combination of specific viruses and environmental factors, cases of hoarseness in upper respiratory tract infections may appear more concentrated. If you feel discomfort in your throat, you can "rest+hydrate+rinse with warm salt water". What should you do if you feel discomfort in your throat? Xie Gaoyi reminds that when you first feel sore throat, you can intervene in a timely manner through a series of measures to alleviate symptoms and shorten the course of the disease. Ensure adequate rest. Ensure sufficient sleep, avoid fatigue, and "recharge" the immune system. If you feel uncomfortable and stay up late or engage in vigorous exercise, it is equivalent to providing an "assist" to the virus. Drink plenty of warm water. Drinking warm water, lemon water, or light honey water can not only relieve dryness and pain in the throat, but also promote metabolism, help the body eliminate toxins produced by viruses, keep the throat mucosa moist, and enhance its own defense ability. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water. Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water (about 250 milliliters) and rinse your mouth 3 to 5 times a day. Saltwater helps to reduce swelling and inflammation of the throat mucosa, and has a certain cleansing effect. Contains throat candy or spray. Choosing throat lozenges containing ingredients such as mint and eucalyptus oil can stimulate saliva secretion and keep the throat moist. Some throat spray with germicidal and anti-inflammatory effects can also directly act on the affected part to relieve pain. Increase nutritional supplementation. Eating foods rich in vitamin C, especially supplementing in the early stages of infection, can help shorten the course of the disease. You can also eat some nutritious food that is easy to digest, such as chicken soup, millet Congee, etc. Be cautious when using medication. It is not recommended to use antibiotics as soon as there is throat pain. Because antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections and ineffective against viral infections. Difficulty breathing and persistent high fever should be treated promptly. Some people may feel that throat pain and hoarseness are mild symptoms, but from a medical perspective, sound is a barometer of respiratory health. Once there is a problem with the throat, it indicates that the inflammation in the upper respiratory tract is more severe than you imagine. Don't forget, below the vocal cords is the trachea, and below the trachea is the lungs. The virus can travel all the way down and eventually develop into bronchitis or even pneumonia. Now it is the peak season of winter flu, and Xie Gaoyi suggests adopting a dual defense strategy of "vaccine+hygiene habits": high-risk groups such as the elderly and children should try to avoid going to crowded and enclosed public places, and it is recommended to wear masks scientifically when going there; It is recommended to wear masks in crowded places or when taking public transportation such as airplanes, trains, subways, etc., especially for the elderly and those with chronic underlying diseases. Wash hands frequently, pay attention to hand hygiene, and wash hands promptly after going out and returning; Regularly ventilate, it is recommended to ventilate three times a day for at least 30 minutes each time for home, study, and office spaces. Enhance immunity, maintain a balanced diet, get enough sleep, and exercise appropriately. Of course, getting vaccinated against influenza is one of the most economical and effective ways to prevent it, as it can significantly reduce the risk of severe illness and death. For the flu, Xie Gaoyi provides coping advice: if there is a sudden high fever, chills, or muscle soreness, seek medical attention promptly, complete virus nucleic acid testing for diagnosis, and take antiviral drugs such as oseltamivir and mabaloxavir within 48 hours; For symptomatic treatment of different manifestations, antipyretic drugs (commonly used ibuprofen and acetaminophen) or physical cooling should be properly used for fever, and the intake of water and electrolyte should be appropriately increased for fatigue and anorexia. For obvious sore throat, local traditional Chinese patent medicines and simple preparations buccal tablets or sprays can be used, and the sore throat can be alleviated by drinking honey water and containing throat moistening sugar, and the air can be kept moist; Some antiviral traditional Chinese patent medicines and simple preparations can be considered to be used as appropriate (antiviral oral liquid, indigo, etc.), and it is unnecessary not to use antibiotics; Pay attention to rest, maintain optimal physical condition, and enhance immunity. Influenza can lead to complications such as lung infections, myocarditis, encephalitis, etc. Therefore, once symptoms such as difficulty breathing, persistent high fever, coughing with yellow phlegm, and blurred consciousness occur, it is necessary to seek medical attention in a timely manner. ”Xie Gaoyi stated. (New Society)