Laryngitis
What is laryngitis?
Laryngitis is inflammation of the vocal cords and the area around them (the larynx, or voice box). It causes hoarseness.
Laryngitis may be acute or chronic. Acute laryngitis occurs suddenly and does not last long. Laryngitis is chronic if the hoarseness in your throat lasts for a long time.
How does it occur?
Laryngitis can be a symptom of a cold, flu, bronchitis, sinusitis, and other respiratory infections or allergies. Acute laryngitis is usually caused by a virus, but it can also result from a bacterial infection.
Chronic laryngitis can be caused by:
- heavy smoking
- shouting, singing, or excessive use of the voice, such as in teaching or public speaking
- coughing forcefully
- exposure to dust or chemicals.
Things other than laryngitis that might cause a change in the voice over the course of a few weeks are:
- thyroid disease
- noncancerous growths on the vocal cords
- cancer of the vocal cords.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of both acute and chronic laryngitis include:
- low, raspy voice and hoarseness
- a cough that is dry (you aren't coughing up mucus)
- a throat that feels dry
- little or no pain
- a voice that weakens as the day progresses.
Sometimes you may lose your voice completely.
How is it diagnosed?
Your health care provider will ask about your symptoms and how long you have had them. Your provider will listen to your voice and examine you. Your provider will also examine your thyroid gland (the gland located near your voice box) and the lymph glands in your neck. Lab tests and x-rays may be done, but often they are not helpful.
If necessary, your health care provider will look at your voice box and surrounding area with a flexible laryngoscope (a special light to see past your tongue).
How is it treated?
The main treatment is resting your voice as much as you can.
Your health care provider may recommend taking a nonprescription pain reliever, such as ibuprofen. He or she may also prescribe medicine. For example, your provider may prescribe a steroid spray for your throat. Or, if your laryngitis is caused by sinusitis or bronchitis, your treatment may include taking medicine for these conditions.
How long will the effects last?
When acute laryngitis is caused by a virus, it usually goes away in a few days without medicine. Laryngitis caused by bacteria should also be better in a few days with treatment.
If you have chronic laryngitis, your condition should improve with a week of rest. If your hoarseness lasts more than 3 weeks, see your health care provider. You may need more tests to check for other diseases.
How can I take care of myself?
- Follow the treatment prescribed by your health care provider.
- Do not smoke.
- Avoid breathing irritating smoke, dust, and fumes.
- Rest your voice as much as possible.
- Drink extra fluids, such as water, fruit juice, and tea.
- Take hot, steamy showers and breathe in the moist air, or breathe through a hot, moist towel.
- Use a vaporizer or humidifier to add moisture to the air.
What can I do to help prevent laryngitis?
- Get plenty of rest when you have a viral or bacterial infection, such as a cold or sinusitis.
- Avoid vocal strain by not yelling, screaming, or talking loudly, particularly in noisy settings.
- Don't smoke and avoid exposure to smoke.
- Keep your home well humidified.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
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