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Patient education: Laryngitis (The Basics)

Patient education: Laryngitis (The Basics)

What is laryngitis? — Laryngitis is the medical term for when your vocal cords are inflamed. Laryngitis usually causes your voice to sound hoarse. It can even make you lose your voice completely.

What causes laryngitis? — Laryngitis can be caused by:

The common cold and other infections that affect the throat

Shouting or straining your voice too much

Breathing in harsh chemicals, such as cleaners or gasoline

Drinking too much alcohol, or smoking

Acid reflux, which is when the acid from your stomach backs up into your throat

There are also medical problems besides laryngitis that can make your voice hoarse or make you lose your voice. For example, people can have these symptoms because of:

Abnormal growths on the vocal cords

Muscle disorders affecting the voice box

Cancer of the throat

Is there anything I can do on my own to get rid of laryngitis? — Yes. There are different things you can do, depending on what caused your laryngitis.

If your laryngitis happened because you strained your voice too much, give your voice a rest. If you are a singer or need to use your voice for work, you might want to think about taking voice lessons. An experienced teacher can help you learn how to protect your voice and prevent straining it again.

If your laryngitis was caused by drinking alcohol, limit how much you drink. If it was related to smoking, the best thing you can do is to quit smoking. If you would like help quitting, talk with your doctor or nurse. They can help.

If your laryngitis was caused by breathing in a harsh chemical, avoid the chemical if possible. If you need to be around fumes, make sure there is a lot fresh air coming in and wear a "respirator" mask. If you work near chemical fumes that are making you hoarse, speak with your employer about getting masks and ventilation fans.

If your laryngitis was caused by acid reflux, take steps to avoid acid reflux. For example:

Take medicines for acid reflux, if your doctor recommends them

Avoid foods that make your symptoms worse. (Common examples include alcohol, coffee, and chocolate.)

If you smoke, stop smoking

Eat many small meals each day, rather than 2 or 3 big meals

Do not lie down for at least 3 hours after eating, particularly after a big meal

Should I see a doctor or nurse? — That depends on how long your symptoms last and whether you have symptoms besides hoarseness.

Most people with laryngitis get better on their own within 2 to 3 weeks. If your voice is hoarse or gone for 2 weeks or longer, and you do not seem to be getting better, see a doctor or nurse.

You should also see a doctor or nurse if you have a sore throat and:

You have a fever of at least 101°F or 38.4°C

Your throat pain is severe or does not start to improve within 5 to 7 days

Will I need tests? — Maybe. If your doctor or nurse is not sure what is causing your symptoms, you might need tests. For example, you might have a laryngoscopy, which is when the doctor puts a thin tube with a tiny camera in your throat to look at your voice box.

How is laryngitis treated? — That depends on what is causing it. If your laryngitis is caused by a cold or other minor infection, you will probably not need any treatment. If something else is causing your laryngitis, you might need treatment, depending on the situation.

What if my child gets laryngitis? — Some of the same things that cause laryngitis in adults can cause it children, too. For instance, children can get laryngitis because of a throat infection or common cold, because of acid reflux, or because they strain their voice too much. But in children, sounding hoarse can have lots of other causes. For example, children sometimes develop bumps on their vocal cords or are born with problems affecting their voice box.

See a doctor or nurse right away if your child has trouble breathing or has pain or other symptoms that seem to be getting worse. You should also see a doctor or nurse if your child has laryngitis for more than 2 weeks, or if the laryngitis is getting worse or is making it hard for your child to interact with others. If your child has laryngitis or throat discomfort or pain that gets better and comes back, see a doctor or nurse. If your child is a baby, call the baby's doctor as soon as you notice symptoms. The doctor will tell you what to do for your baby.

More on this topic

Patient education: Sore throat in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Sore throat in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Strep throat in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Laryngeal cancer (The Basics)
Patient education: Throat cancer (The Basics)
Patient education: Laryngeal dystonia (The Basics)

Patient education: Sore throat in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Sore throat in children (Beyond the Basics)

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Feb 02, 2024.
Disclaimer: This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider's examination and assessment of a patient's specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms. 2024© UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved.
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