title: Two cases of thermal burns of the larynx in older men.
abstract: Cases of thermal burns of the larynx in infants and in patients with mental illness have been reported, but those in older people are rare. We report two cases of thermal burns of the larynx in older people caused by ingestion of microwave-heated food (meat and potato stew or a bean-jam filled bun). Both patients were users of full dentures. Conservative therapy was effective in one patient, while tracheotomy was performed in the other patient at the time of the initial examination. Hot food is expelled from the mouth as a reflective response, preventing thermal burns of the larynx. However, in older individuals, sense perception is impaired and reflexes are slowed. Further, the oral mucosa is protected if full dentures are placed. Therefore, heat is likely to not be perceived and reflexes occur only after the food has reached the larynx, thereby causing thermal burns of the larynx. The number of such cases may increase as the number of older patients rises in the current aging society. Therefore, raising awareness of such cases is important.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0192, Japan. Electronic address: yuki-hyo@med.kawasaki-m.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yukiyoshi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hyo
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukutsuji
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Tamotsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harada
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005502:Food / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007830:Larynx / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008775:Methylprednisolone
keywords: Dentures; Microwave; Older man; Thermal burns