Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx (vocal cords) and usually leads to throat irritation, hoarseness or loss of voice. Laryngitis is most often caused by infections, overuse of the voice or irritants.
Symptoms of laryngitis:
- Hoarseness or loss of voice (the most common symptom)
- Sore throat or a feeling of irritation in the throat
- Dry cough
- Speech difficulty (weak or hoarse voice)
- Request to clean the strait
- Feeling a lump in the throat or as if something is stuck
- Fever in some cases (if there is an infection)
- Runny or stuffy nose (if associated with a viral infection)
How Can You Tell If I Have Laryngitis?
If you experience hoarseness, a sore throat or difficulty speaking, you may have laryngitis. If these symptoms occur after a cold, a viral infection or excessive voice use (shouting, singing), you probably have laryngitis.
There are two main types of laryngitis:
1. Acute laryngitis – Usually lasts for a few days and is most often caused by a viral infection (such as a cold or flu) or overuse of the voice.
2. Chronic laryngitis – A condition that lasts longer than three weeks and is usually caused by constant irritating factors such as smoking, acid reflux, allergies or environmental pollutants.
If your symptoms persist or worsen, it is important to contact a health professional for an accurate diagnosis.
What to do when you have laryngitis?
Treatment of laryngitis depends on the underlying cause:
- Rest your voice: Try not to talk, whisper or strain your voice.
- Drink plenty of fluids: Liquids such as water, herbal teas or broth soothe the throat.
- Keep the air moist: In dry environments, use a humidifier to keep the air moist.
- Avoid irritants: Avoid substances such as cigarette smoke and polluted air.
- Non-prescription medicines: Painkillers (paracetamol or ibuprofen) can be used for sore throat or fever. Lozenges or throat sprays can provide temporary relief.
- Gargle with warm salt water: This can be useful to soothe a sore throat.
- Avoid excessive coughing or throat clearing, as this can further irritate the vocal cords.
- Steam inhalation: Inhaling hot water vapor loosens mucus and soothes the throat.
If laryngitis is caused by a bacterial infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. However, since most cases of laryngitis are viral, antibiotics will not be effective.
Is Surgical Intervention Necessary?
Surgical intervention is not usually required for laryngitis, but in some cases surgery may be considered:
- If chronic laryngitis and conditions that do not respond to typical treatments are caused by problems such as polyps or nodules on the vocal cords, these polyps or nodules may need to be surgically removed.
- Conditions such as vocal cord paralysis or vocal cord dysfunction may require surgical intervention.
- If laryngeal cancer (symptoms such as prolonged hoarseness, unexplained pain, difficulty swallowing) is suspected, a biopsy or surgery to remove abnormal tissues may be performed.
In most cases, laryngitis does not require surgical intervention and patients recover with rest, hydration and other treatments. However, if your symptoms persist for 2-3 weeks or you have concerns about your voice, it is important to contact a health professional for further evaluation and treatment.