Laryngitis

Definition
Laryngitis is an inflammation of your voice box (larynx) due to overuse, irritation or
infection. Inside the larynx are your vocal cords — two folds of mucous membrane
covering muscle and cartilage.

Normally your vocal cords open and close smoothly, forming sounds through their
movement and vibration. But in laryngitis, your vocal cords become inflamed or
irritated. This swelling causes distortion of the sounds produced by air passing over
them. As a result, your voice sounds hoarse. In some cases of laryngitis, your voice
can become so faint as to be undetectable.

Laryngitis may be short-lived (acute) or long lasting (chronic). Most cases of

laryngitis are triggered by temporary viral infection or vocal strain and are not serious.
But persistent hoarseness can sometimes signal a more serious underlying medical
condition.

Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of laryngitis can include:

 Hoarseness
 Weak voice or voice loss
 Tickling sensation and rawness of your throat
 Sore throat
 Dry throat
 Dry cough
 Difficulty breathing (in children)
Causes

Laryngitis

Most cases of laryngitis last less than a few weeks and are caused by something
minor, such as a cold. Less often, laryngitis is caused by something more serious or
long lasting.

Acute laryngitis
Most cases of laryngitis are temporary and improve after the underlying cause gets
better. Causes of acute laryngitis include:

 Viral infections such as those that cause a cold

 Vocal strain, caused by yelling or overusing your voice
 Viruses such as measles or mumps
 Bacterial infections such as diphtheria — this is rare

Chronic laryngitis
Laryngitis that lasts more than three weeks is known as chronic laryngitis. This type
of laryngitis is generally caused by irritants over time. It can cause vocal cord strain,
injuries or growths on the vocal cord (polyps or nodules). These injuries can be
caused by:

 Inhaled irritants, such as chemical fumes, allergens or smoking

 Acid reflux, also called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
 Chronic sinusitis
 Excessive alcohol use
 Habitual overuse of your voice (such as with singers or cheerleaders)
 Smoking
Less common causes of chronic laryngitis include:

 Bacterial or fungal infections

 Infections with certain parasites
 Cancer
 Vocal cord paralysis, which can result from injury, stroke or a lung tumor, or other health
conditions

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,
stomach acid or workplace chemicals
 Overusing your voice, by speaking too much, speaking too loudly, shouting or
singing

When to seek medical advice

You can manage most acute cases of laryngitis with self-care steps, such as resting
your voice, drinking plenty of fluids and sucking on lozenges, and breathing
humidified air.

Make an appointment with a doctor if hoarseness lasts for more than two weeks.

See a doctor right away if your child appears to have severe symptoms caused by
croup. While croup — inflammation of the larynx and the airway just beneath it —
can usually be treated at home, seek immediate medical attention if your child:

 Makes noisy, high-pitched breathing sounds when inhaling

 Drools more than usual
 Has trouble swallowing
 Has difficulty breathing
 Has a fever higher than 103 F (39 C)

Tests and diagnosis

The most common sign of laryngitis is hoarseness. Changes in your voice can vary
with the degree of infection or irritation, ranging from mild hoarseness to almost total
loss of your voice. Your doctor may ask whether you smoke or if you have any health
conditions — such as a cold or allergies — that may be causing vocal irritation. Your
doctor may also ask you whether any overuse of your vocal cords — such as singing
or shouting — may have irritated your vocal cords.

If you have chronic hoarseness, your doctor may want to listen to your voice and to
examine your vocal cords and may refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist.
These techniques are sometimes used to help diagnose laryngitis:
  Laryngoscopy. Your doctor can visually examine your vocal cords in a
procedure called laryngoscopy, by using a light and a tiny mirror to look into
the back of your throat. Or your doctor may use fiber-optic laryngoscopy. This
involves inserting a thin, flexible tube (endoscope) with a tiny camera and
light through your nose or mouth and into the back of your throat. Then your
doctor can watch the motion of your vocal cords as you speak.
 Biopsy. If your doctor sees a suspicious area, your doctor may do a biopsy —
taking a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope.

Treatments and drugs

Treatment for laryngitis depends on the underlying cause. Acute laryngitis caused by
a virus often gets better on its own within a week or so.

Home treatment can help with symptoms:

 Breathe moist air: Inhale steam from a bowl of hot water or a hot shower.
 Rest your voice as much as possible.
 Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration (avoid alcohol and caffeine).
 Treat the underlying cause of laryngitis, such as heartburn, smoking or
alcoholism.
 Suck lozenges, gargle salt water or chew a piece of gum — this won't help
your vocal cords, but can ease throat irritation.

Medications used in some cases include:

 Antibiotics. In almost all cases of laryngitis, an antibiotic won't do any good

because the cause is viral. But, if you have a bacterial infection (a very rare
cause of laryngitis), your doctor may recommend an antibiotic.
 Corticosteroids. In some cases, corticosteroids can help reduce vocal cord
inflammation. However, this treatment is only used when there's an urgent
need to treat laryngitis — for example, when you need to use your voice to
sing or give a speech or oral presentation, or in some cases when a toddler has
laryngitis associated with croup.
 Acid reflux medications, if gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the
cause of your laryngitis.

Prevention
To prevent dryness or irritation to your vocal cords:

 Don't smoke, and avoid secondhand smoke. Smoke dries your throat and
irritates your vocal cords.
 Drink plenty of water. Fluids help keep the mucus in your throat thin and
easy to clear.
 Avoid clearing your throat. This does more harm than good, because it
causes an abnormal vibration of your vocal cords and can increase swelling.
Clearing your throat also causes your throat to secrete more mucus and feel
more irritated, making you want to clear your throat again.
  Avoid upper respiratory infections. Make sure to get your annual flu shot if
your doctor recommends it. Wash your hands often and avoid contact with
people who have upper respiratory infections such as colds.

Lifestyle and home remedies

The following self-care steps may relieve the symptoms of laryngitis and reduce strain
on your voice:

 Use a humidifier. Keep the air throughout your home moist.

 Inhale steam. Breathe in steam from a bowl of hot water or a hot shower.
 Avoid talking or singing too loudly or for too long. If you need to speak
before large groups, try to use a microphone or megaphone.
 Give your voice a break. Rest your voice when possible.
 Avoid decongestants. These medications can dry out the throat.
 Avoid whispering. This puts even more strain on your voice than normal
speech does.
 Moisten your throat. Try sucking on lozenges, gargling with salt water or
chewing a piece of gum.