Key reminder: Reflux laryngopharyngitis is a condition caused by the reflux of substances from the stomach into the throat, which irritates the mucous membrane of the throat and causes symptoms, generally manifested as a sensation of foreign body in the throat, hoarseness, difficulty in speaking, and chronic cough or dry cough, and may also appear with throat swelling and difficulty in breathing. If the reflux laryngopharyngitis is long-term and corroded by acid, it may lead to exacerbated inflammation, even causing diseases and triggering cancer.

Pharyngitis is a very common disease, especially acute pharyngitis and chronic pharyngitis. These diseases will not lead to life-threatening conditions if treated. However, there is also a type of pharyngitis called reflux laryngopharyngitis, which was often misdiagnosed as chronic pharyngitis in the past, causing symptoms to be unrelieved. It has only been understood recently in recent years.

Reflux laryngopharyngitis is a condition caused by the reflux of substances from the stomach into the throat, which irritates the mucous membrane of the throat and causes symptoms, also known as laryngopharyngeal reflux, and has a high incidence in otolaryngology. Reflux laryngopharyngitis usually causes throat discomfort due to the direct irritation of the mucous membrane of the throat by refluxed acidic substances, or it may be caused by the irritation of the distal esophagus, causing a vagal reflex, leading to chronic cough, and causing damage to the throat mucosa. Generally, reflux laryngopharyngitis is characterized by a sensation of foreign body in the throat, hoarseness, difficulty in speaking, and chronic cough or dry cough, and may also appear with throat swelling and difficulty in breathing.

If not treated, refractory laryngopharyngitis may lead to laryngeal cancer and esophageal adenocarcinoma, and may also cause other complications, such as otitis media with effusion, chronic sinusitis, obstructive pulmonary emphysema, and sleep-disordered breathing syndrome.

The most critical treatment for this disease is acid suppression therapy and lifestyle changes. Patients with reflux laryngopharyngitis should avoid eating some acidic fruits and high-fat desserts, and improve their lifestyle, avoiding eating before going to bed, and trying to avoid eating dinner. In terms of diet, attention should be paid to eating more vegetables and fruits and other nutritious foods. In addition, the bed in the bedroom can be raised to alleviate the reflux condition. For patients with severe reflux laryngopharyngitis, surgical treatment or medication can be used to alleviate the symptoms.

Patients with reflux laryngopharyngitis are very susceptible to the irritation of acidic substances, and acid is the best metal catalyst for cancer. Therefore, if the laryngopharyngitis caused by reflux is long-term and corroded by acid, it may lead to exacerbated inflammation, even causing diseases and triggering cancer. Therefore, patients with reflux laryngopharyngitis must actively seek medical treatment and, at the same time, pay attention to preventing disease progression.