Symptom 9: Hoarseness
Children’s voices are usually reminiscent of joy, excitement, or sometimes that heart-wrenching cry when they fall. The giggles, the animated storytelling sessions, the eager questions – these all make a child’s voice undeniably unique and lively. So when this lively tone starts to falter and takes on a coarse, grating quality, it’s not something that can be easily brushed aside.
It’s not uncommon for children to develop a hoarse voice after a bout of shouting, crying, or even from a simple cold. A day at the park yelling with friends or cheering for their team can leave them sounding a bit rough. However, if this hoarseness persists beyond the expected recovery time of a simple cold or a day of vocal strain, it’s a cause for concern. It’s not just about strained vocal cords; it could be a signal from the body about an underlying issue.
It may seem far-fetched to link a child’s hoarse voice to lung carcinoma, but the two can be related in some instances. The recurrent laryngeal nerve, which controls the vocal cords, can be affected if tumors or swollen lymph nodes in the lung exert pressure on it. This can lead to vocal cord paralysis, resulting in a notable change in voice quality. It’s one of the indirect ways in which lung carcinoma can announce its presence.
While hoarseness can originate from issues localized to the throat or voice box, when paired with other symptoms, it paints a different picture. A persistent cough, shortness of breath, or unexplained weight loss accompanying hoarseness are red flags. These combinations of symptoms call for a deeper look, ensuring that the root cause isn’t something that requires immediate medical attention. (9)
