How is laryngitis treated? Short-term laryngitis doesn't usually require treatment. As the cause is often viral, you won't need antibiotics as antibiotics don't kill viruses. You can use paracetamol, ibuprofen or aspirin to help with symptoms such as a headache, fever and sore throat.
Most cases of acute laryngitis can be treated with home therapy including: Pain reliever/anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen. Warm, hydrating fluids. Vocal rest — use your voice as little as possible.
Strenuous use of your voice during an episode of acute laryngitis can damage your vocal cords. Make an appointment with a doctor if your laryngitis symptoms last more than two weeks.
Laryngitis can also be caused, or made worse, by irritants to the vocal cords, such as alcohol, smoking, allergies, direct trauma, vocal overuse / misuse or reflux of stomach acid into the oesophagus and throat (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease - GORD).
Is Laryngitis Contagious? The viruses that laryngitis comes from aren't that contagious. The time laryngitis is most contagious is during the time frame when you have a fever. Bacterial and fungal infection-causing laryngitis is potentially contagious, but these occur less frequently.
Most cases of laryngitis get better without treatment within a week. To help your vocal cords heal, it's important not to smoke, to avoid smoky environments, drink plenty of fluids (particularly water) and try to rest your voice as much as possible.
[1] Acute Laryngitis is often a mild and self-limiting condition that typically lasts for a period of 3 to 7 days. If this condition lasts for over 3 weeks, then it is termed as chronic laryngitis.
Drinking warm water helps relieve pain and inflammation, and honey is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory substance. By fighting inflammation, it may help reduce pain and discomfort in the throat. Honey can also act as a cough suppressant. People who find honey too sweet can add lemon juice to the hot water.
Notably, the omicron variant is prone to cause severe laryngitis, resulting in fatal upper airway stenosis.
Loss of voice can accompany many conditions that affect the throat such as viral sore throat, laryngitis, or mononucleosis. All of these conditions can be associated with fatigue as well. Fatigue is a nonspecific symptom that can be present along with almost any type of illness.
If you lost your voice because of a viral illness, supportive care can usually help you get better. Dr. Tully recommends the following steps to help you through the healing process: Rest is best – Resting your vocal cords completely is the best type of treatment.
Moisture is important to heal inflamed vocal cords. It can also loosen phlegm. Try adding a few drops of vapour rub to your humidifier to soothe discomfort in your throat. Vapour rubs generally contain menthol, which can have a cooling effect on your throat.
“Laryngitis itself is not contagious,” Peña said. “However, the viral upper respiratory infections that cause laryngitis can be.” As long as you don't have any other severe symptoms, you should be able to continue your daily activities while you have laryngitis.
So, now that whispering is out, what should you do if you get a hoarse voice? The best cure for laryngitis is voice rest. As hard as if may sound, shutting your mouth for at least three days will do wonders for your vocal cords.
If you only have laryngitis, you can likely be out and about without concern of getting others sick (just try to rest your voice). If you also have symptoms of a respiratory infection, however, you may be contagious and should stay home.
Other Possible Causes
Experiencing unexpected hoarseness or voice loss can indicate an underlying health condition. Other possible causes include: Acid reflux, known as heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). Growths on your vocal cord tissue, also called vocal nodules, polyps, cysts, and contact ulcers.
Rest your voice. You do not have to stop speaking, but use your voice as little as possible. Speak softly but do not whisper; whispering can bother your larynx more than speaking softly. Avoid talking on the telephone or trying to speak loudly.
If your laryngitis is caused by a viral illness, you'll be most contagious for the first three days, but could pass the infection for up to three weeks. If you spent the night singing along at a concert and woke up with no voice, you laryngitis likely isn't contagious.
If your laryngitis is caused by an infection, you will most likely need a course of oral antibiotics or antifungal therapy before it goes away. This will help minimize and kill the bacteria or fungus growth causing the infection.
Laryngitis often occurs along with a viral infection, such as a cold or flu. Hoarseness tends to appear later in the illness, after the sore throat, sneezing, coughing and other symptoms. Bacterial infections of the breathing tubes (bronchitis) or lung (pneumonia) also can infect the larynx and cause laryngitis.
Symptoms and Signs
At times, laryngitis can be an indication of serious laryngeal cancer. The following symptoms definitely warrant a visit to a head, neck, and throat specialist: A sore throat accompanied by a fever. Coughing up yellow or green phlegm (possibly bacterial sinusitis or bronchitis)