With a large part of the Spanish population vaccinated and in the heat of the season of seasonal respiratory viruses, many symptoms that coincide in the case of pandemic disease and others such as the flu or the cold can be difficult to interpret.
The hoarse voice is a clear example of this. It is a phenomenon to which we are more than accustomed in winter and that before the outbreak of the pandemic used to be solved, at most, with the taking of some over-the-counter medicine. Now, on the other hand, it may be a cause for more concern.
Why is our voice hoarse?
Hoarse voice (lower in volume, deeper, and with a less clear and slightly distorted sound), which usually occurs accompanied by a harsh sensation in the throat, is a clear symptom of involvement of the vocal cords and larynx .
As such, it is typical in those diseases that attack the upper respiratory tract (to which the larynx belongs) that include, but are not limited to, rhinoviruses and adenoviruses (colds or colds), influenza (flu), and various types of coronaviruses (not just the SARS-CoV-2).
The mechanism, more specifically, is a combination of inflammation and irritation of the vocal cords , which reduces their flexibility and affects the tone of the voice, and the presence of mucus.
All this fits with the way in which the covid attacks our body. The inflammatory responses that the virus causes in the human body have long been known. The resulting cough is not only a clear sign of this, but it can, in turn, irritate and cause inflammation of the vocal cords.
How common is it with covid
Since the emergence of the covid, and as part of the effort to develop a clear symptomatic catalog, some studies have been carried out in order to encrypt the prevalence of hoarse voice in the picture caused by the disease.
Thus, the figures vary ; A study published in March of this year in the specialized journal Journal of Voice found this symptom in 69 of the 160 patients studied (which would represent slightly less than 45%), while previously a June 2020 study in the same medium with a much larger sample (702) had only registered it in 27%.
Be that as it may, it must be pointed out that in small percentages of patients this sign can become relatively serious and very long-lasting, lasting for more than a month.
In any case, the hoarse voice, by itself, should not be considered evidence that you have covid . Instead, the context of the sign (and more specifically if it coincides with other symptoms) should be taken into account, in which case the diagnosis must be confirmed with the judgment of a physician and / or the relevant test (s).
