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Sudden onset aphonia caused by a Japanese-style bath

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Koichi Tsunoda ,
Minako Takanozawa  and
Kouhei Choh
Koichi Tsunoda*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Nissan Tamagawa Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
Minako Takanozawa
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Nissan Tamagawa Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
Kouhei Choh
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, Nissan Tamagawa Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
*
Address for correspondence: Koichi Tsunoda, Chief, Department of Otolaryngology, Nissan Tamagawa Hospital, 4-8-1 Seta, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158, Japan. Fax: 00+81-3-3700-2090
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Abstract

An 86-year-old man was referred by his family physicianto our clinic because of sudden onset aphonia immediately after a Japanese-style bath. On examination, the only abnormality was aphonia, with an otherwise normal physical examination. However, we found vocal fold oedema on laryngeal fibrescopy. For treatment, he was immediately given 30 mg prednisolone intravenously. Twelve hours after injection the oedema had completely disappeared and his aphonia had resolved. The patient was healthy for three months after returning home. However, at the beginning of a cold winter night he again complained of sudden onset hoarseness, after taking a Japanese-style bath.

Japanese-style baths are completely different from Western-style baths. There is a temperature difference of almost 30°C between the inside and outside of a bath; the transition may represent a type of physical exercise in elderly and exhausted individuals. This difference could cause a cold or heat-induced allergic reaction. We strongly recommend a laryngeal study in case of sudden onset aphonia.

Keywords

Laryngeal oedemaTemperatureHypersensitivity
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 112 , Issue 5 , May 1998 , pp. 480 - 481
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1998

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References

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