Abstract
Objectives
The COVID-19 omicron variant has a low affinity for the lower respiratory tract. However, upper respiratory tract symptoms, such as nasal discharge and sore throat, characterize the infection with this variant. Therefore, in laryngeal stenosis, disease severity assessment through blood oxygen saturation has not been useful.
Methods
We report the case of “omicron laryngitis” in a 59-year-old male who visited the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) clinic with complaints of a sore throat and difficulty in swallowing saliva that persisted for a day.
Results
Laryngoscopy revealed severe swelling of the transglottic region and exudates on the larynx. He was then diagnosed with COVID-19 and subjected to emergency tracheostomy for airway management. Until the emergence of the omicron variant, COVID-19 showed mainly lower airway and mild upper airway inflammatory features. However, upper airway stenosis should be suspected in cases presenting with “muffled speech,” “dysphagia,” “severe pain on swallowing,” and “inspiratory dyspnea or stridor.”
Conclusion
Therefore, laryngeal and pharyngeal evaluation using a flexible laryngoscope under appropriate infection control measures is necessary, considering the possibility of progression to fatal laryngeal stenosis, as noted in this case.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, airway management, tracheostomy, Laryngitis, Upper airway stenosis, 【초록키워드】 infection control, Saliva, disease severity, variant, Infection, nasal, progression, Symptoms, discharge, airway, Features, Dyspnea, male, Pain, Mild, Omicron variant, upper respiratory tract, Inflammatory, Lower respiratory tract, sore throat, Laryngoscopy, Blood oxygen saturation, measure, pharyngeal, objective, flexible, Result, laryngeal, presenting, diagnosed with COVID-19, laryngeal stenosis, transglottic region, 【제목키워드】 omicron,