Laryngitis

What Is Laryngitis?

Laryngitis is a condition where inflammation develops in the voice box. This may be due to causes such as irritation, infection, or even vocal overuse. The larynx is the structure in which the vocal cords are housed. The vocal cords vibrate when you speak, producing voice. As a result, laryngitis can feel like a sore throat, accompanied by hoarseness when the vocal cords vibrate to produce voice.

Due to the multiple different causes of laryngitis, the treatments of laryngitis can vary as well.

What Causes Laryngitis?

Causes of laryngitis include:

Voice overuse, such as prolonged yelling / shouting
Bacterial or viral infections
Inhaling irritants
Fumes, smoke, chemicals
Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) / Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Chronic alcohol use

What Are Some Symptoms Of Laryngitis?

Common symptoms of laryngitis include:

Sore throat
Dry Cough
Voice hoarseness or complete loss of voice
‘Tickle’ in your throat

What Are Some Treatments For Laryngitis?

Laryngitis treatments depends on whether it is acute or chronic. Acute laryngitis does not usually require treatment as the cause is often viral. Laryngitis treatments / interventions include:

Drinking plenty of water
Alcohol avoidance
Avoiding smoking and exposure to cigarette smoke
Simple gargles with warm salty water
Sucking a lozenge
Voice rest
Avoiding shouting
Avoiding whispering
Steam inhalations
avoid nasal decongestants as these may make your throat drier.

If the symptoms of acute laryngitis do not resolve spontaneously after 2 weeks, further investigation and intervention may be required.

What Is The Difference Between Acute And Chronic Laryngitis?

Depending on the cause, laryngitis can be acute or chronic. Acute laryngitis generally lasts for < 2 weeks, with chronic laryngitis lasting > 2 weeks. Viral infections such as common colds are the most common cause of laryngitis.

These acute, short-term symptoms are generally not severe and do not cause lasting damage. There might be temporary voice loss or a hoarse voice, but this will not impact your ability to speak well after recovery.

Some patients with persistent and chronic laryngitis may have medical conditions underlying their symptoms which need to be addressed.

References:

Johns Hopkins Medicine – Laryngitis

NHS UK – Laryngitis