Laryngitis – Mnemonic

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Here is a quick mnemonic “VOCAL CORD“ to remember about Laryngitis

This can be valuable for patients as well as medical doctors, nurses & students doing their clinical rounds. You can also find it very useful for med exams like USMLE, MBBS, NEET PG, INI-CET, FMGE, NExT, MCAT & NCLEX exams

Laryngitis : How To Remember Easily ?

  • V – Viral URIs are the most common cause of laryngitis in children, such as parainfluenza virus causing croup.
  • O – Other than viruses, laryngitis can be caused by bacteria and fungi, with S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and M. catarrhalis being the common bacteria involved.
  • C – Causes of noninfectious laryngitis include vocal trauma, inhalation injuries, allergies, gastroesophageal reflux disease (laryngopharyngeal reflux), asthma, and pollution.
  • A – Immunosuppressed patients are at risk for infections with herpesvirus, HIV, and coxsackievirus, which can contribute to laryngitis.
  • L – Laryngitis is characterized by a raspy, hoarse, or breathy voice, sometimes leading to a complete loss of voice. It can also be accompanied by a dry cough and anterior throat pain.
  • C – The diagnosis of laryngitis is generally based on history, but if visualization of the vocal cords is necessary, indirect examination with a mirror or flexible laryngoscopy can reveal erythema and edema of the vocal cords and surrounding structures.
  • O – Ordinarily, laryngitis is generally self-limited and lasts for about 3-7 days, but it can last up to 14 days. Vocal rest is crucial for recovery.
  • R – Red flags for emergency evaluation and monitoring include shortness of breath, stridor, dysphagia, odynophagia, drooling, and posturing, which could indicate epiglottitis.
  • D – Direct referral to an otolaryngologist should be considered for patients who rely on their voice for work, such as singers and teachers. A history of smoking or weight loss should raise suspicion of malignancy.

Mnemonic : VOCAL CORD

Dr. Arin Nandi

Passionate About Medical Science & Helping Future Doctors Achieve Top Ranks In Medical Exams. He is professionally a dentist as well as a public health expert from JIPMER (1), (2)working in health department
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