Laryngitis

Overview

Laryngitis is a type of swelling called inflammation that affects the voice box. The medical name for the voice box is the larynx. The larynx can become inflamed from overuse, irritation or infection.

Inside the larynx are the vocal cords. These two bands of muscle tissue give you your voice. When they're healthy, the vocal cords open and close smoothly. They make sounds through their movement and vibration. But with laryngitis, the vocal cords become inflamed. This distorts the sounds made by air passing over them. As a result, the voice sounds hoarse. Some people with laryngitis lose their voices for a time.

Most often, laryngitis lasts for a short while. This is called acute laryngitis. A mild infection from a virus usually causes it, such as a cold or the flu. Or laryngitis can be longer-lasting, also called chronic. Some health conditions and irritating substances such as smoke can cause it.

Treatment of acute laryngitis often involves self-care or resting the voice. With chronic laryngitis, an underlying cause may need to be treated with medicine or lifestyle changes.

Help prevent laryngitis with steps such as handwashing to lower the risk of colds and other viral infections. Stay away from smoke or chemical fumes. And try not to shout or sing loudly often.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your healthcare professional if your voice is hoarse for 2 to 4 weeks. Also make an appointment if you have serious changes in your voice that last more than a few days.

Get medical care right away if you:

• Have trouble breathing or swallowing.
• Cough up blood.
• Have a fever that won't go away.
• Have pain that becomes worse.
• Weight loss.

Get medical care right away if your child:

• Makes noisy, high-pitched breathing sounds when breathing in. This symptom is called stridor.
• Has a barking cough.
• Drools more than usual.
• Has trouble swallowing.
• Has trouble breathing.
• Has a fever.

These can be symptoms of an upper airway infection called croup. They also can be symptoms of a life-threatening condition called epiglottitis. With epiglottitis, the small cartilage lid that covers the windpipe becomes swollen and blocks the airway.

Risk factors

Risk factors for laryngitis include:

• Having a respiratory infection, such as a cold, bronchitis or sinusitis.
• Exposure to irritating substances, such as cigarette smoke, excessive alcohol intake, stomach acid or workplace chemicals.
• Overusing your voice, by speaking too much, speaking too loudly, shouting or singing.

Prevention

To prevent drying out or irritating your vocal cords:

• Do not smoke, and stay away from secondhand smoke. Smoke dries your throat. It also can cause your vocal cords to become irritated.
• Limit alcohol and caffeine. These cause your body to lose water.
• Drink plenty of water. Fluids help keep the mucus in your throat thin and easy to clear.
• Limit spicy foods. Spicy foods can cause stomach acid to go into the throat or esophagus. This can lead to heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
• Eat a variety of healthy foods. Eat fruits, vegetables and whole grains. These have vitamins that are important for your overall health. These foods also can help keep the lining in the throat healthy.
• Try not to clear your throat. This does more harm than good. Throat clearing causes your vocal cords to vibrate and can lead to more swelling. Clearing your throat also causes your throat to feel more irritated. And that could make you want to clear your throat again.
• Take steps to prevent colds, the flu and other infections. Wash your hands often. And stay away from people who are sick.

Treatment

Treatment partly depends on whether you have acute or chronic laryngitis.

Acute laryngitis

Acute laryngitis often gets better on its own within three weeks. In the meantime, the following self-care measures can help ease your symptoms:

• Rest your voice.
• Drink plenty of fluids such as water.
• Use steam or a device called a humidifier to add moisture to the air in your home.

Chronic laryngitis

Chronic laryngitis may have an underlying cause that needs to be treated or managed with lifestyle changes. Examples include:

• Medicines to treat allergies or ongoing acid reflux.
• Staying away from chemical fumes, allergens or other irritating substances in the air.
• A plan to quit smoking or drink less alcohol.

Medicines

Medicines that sometimes are used to treat laryngitis include:

• Antibiotics. These medicines clear up infections caused by germs called bacteria. But bacteria rarely cause laryngitis. So, antibiotics aren't a common treatment.
• Antifungals. These medicines clear up infections caused by fungus. Fungus can build up on the vocal cords, causing laryngitis.
• Corticosteroids. These medicines can help lessen vocal cord swelling. But corticosteroids are used only when there's an urgent need to treat laryngitis. For example, they may be used if a person with acute laryngitis needs to give a speech or vocal performance for work.

Therapies

A treatment called voice therapy also may help for laryngitis. A healthcare professional called a speech-language pathologist teaches you ways to protect your voice.

Surgery or other procedures

Sometimes, surgery is a treatment choice for chronic laryngitis. For instance, chronic laryngitis can lead to growths on the vocal cords that cause hoarseness. Some growths may need to be removed with surgery.

Preparing for your appointment

You're likely to start by seeing your family healthcare professional. You may be referred to a doctor called an otolaryngologist who is trained in ear, nose and throat conditions.

Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.

What you can do

• Be aware of any instructions you need to follow before your appointment. When you make the appointment, ask if there's anything you need to do in advance.
• Write down your symptoms. Include any that may not seem related to the reason for which you made the appointment.
• Write down key personal information, including major stresses or recent life changes.
• Make a list of all medicines, vitamins and supplements you're taking. Include the amounts you take, called the doses.
• Take a family member or friend along, if you can. Someone who joins you may remember information you missed or forgot.
• Write down questions to ask your healthcare professional.

Writing down a list of questions for your healthcare professional helps you make the most of your time together. For laryngitis, some basic questions to ask include:

• What is likely causing my symptoms or condition?
• What are other possible causes?
• What tests do I need, if any?
• Is my condition likely short term or long term?
• What is the best course of action?
• What are the treatment choices other than the main one you're suggesting?
• I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
• Are there any restrictions I need to follow?
• Should I see a specialist?
• Is there a generic version of the medicine you're prescribing?
• Are there brochures or other printed material I can take home? What websites do you recommend?

Feel free to ask any other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare professional is likely to ask you questions such as:

• When did your symptoms start?
• Have your symptoms been constant, or do they happen once in a while?
• How serious are your symptoms?
• What, if anything, seems to make your symptoms better?
• What, if anything, seems to make your symptoms worse?
• Do you smoke?
• Do you drink alcohol?
• Do you have allergies? Have you recently had a cold?
• Have you recently overused your vocal cords, such as by singing or shouting?