KOLKATA: Several people who have recovered from COVID-19 in Kolkata have reported partial or complete loss of voice. Doctors have stated that this usually happens after COVID-induced larynx infection, and stated that it was reversible.

Experts stated that the condition, wherein several others are having hoarseness of voice after COVID-induced lung fibrosis, and some are later developing complete loss of speech for weeks, is not directly caused by COVID, but the disease makes them vulnerable to larynx infections.

Raja Dhar, director of pulmonology, CMRI Hospital, said that despite the fact that Covid-induced lung fibrosis does not cause voice loss, some people are developing a larynx infection, which is affecting their voice. However, it is not likely to cause any long-term damage and most people have regained their voice in a fortnight to three weeks.

Sauren Panja, an intensivist at RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences (RTIICS), said that COVID-19 mostly impacts the lower respiratory system; however, in some cases it has been affecting the upper respiratory tract as well. This has triggered laryngopharyngitis. For some patients, there has been almost a complete loss of speech.

Experts said that this has been happening between the first and third weeks of the COVID infection and may continue for up to three months, adding that it has not caused complete loss of voice in any of the cases thus far.

Another reason for a sudden loss of voice after COVID is a lung infection. As the lung capacity decreases, speaking becomes labored and slow. At times, these patients find it difficult to speak at all. However, it improves as the infection gets cured.

Internal medicine consultant Arindam Biswas stated that COVID-19 has also been causing inflammation of the vocal cord muscles, resulting in voice change or loss. Medications like steroidscan treat the inflammation, and once it is controlled, the voice is regained.

Dhar said that COVID makes the lungs prone to infection, leading to such a condition. However, experts like Panja suggest that loss of voice may also occur due to post-infection chronic fatigue syndrome.

Source: ET Healthworld