Laryngitis occurs when overuse, irritation, or infection causes your voice box or vocal cords to become inflamed.
Laryngitis may be acute (short-term), less than three weeks in duration, or chronic (long-term) and last for over three weeks. There are over three million cases per year in the US.
How do I know I have Laryngitis?
Symptoms which may occur include:
- A sore throat,
- Pain when swallowing
- Fever
- Feeling chilled
- Coughing
- Runny nose
- Stuffiness
- Nasal Blockage
- Lymph nodes which are enlarged (glands are swollen)
- A feeling of fullness in your throat
The throat may appear reddened in the case of an infection, or whitish deposits may occur in the throat.
What triggers Laryngitis?
There are various causes of both acute and chronic Laryngitis.
Most generally, acute Laryngitis is caused by a viral infection that inflames the vocal cords. It may also be caused by overuse of the voice with too much talking, singing, or shouting.
Laryngitis is chronic if symptoms last more than three weeks, and can be due to:
- Prolonged use of alcohol
- Fume Inhalation
- Exposure to secondhand smoke
- Exposure to polluted air
- Overcoughing
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Overuse of inhalers.
How does a health professional diagnose Laryngitis?
Laryngitis is usually diagnosed following a physical exam.
The most widespread symptom of the condition is hoarseness in the throat, so the doctors will first listen to the person’s voice. They can also inquire about lifestyle problems, possible exposure to airborne irritants, and other associated diseases.
Anyone who has symptoms for longer than two weeks should consult their doctor. They may be referred to a specialist in otolaryngology, also known as an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) doctor.
Laryngitis Treatment
Some treatment options for Laryngitis include:
1. Resting of the vocal cords
If you sing or talk for a living, your voice should rest until the inflammation goes away. It would help if you then restricted your speaking after you recover to prevent the condition from flaring up.
2. Liquids
The doctor may suggest you use a household humidifier to add moisture to your environment and to help soothe your irritated and scratchy throat. Stay hydrated and drink lots of fluids.
Limit or avoid alcohol and caffeine because these substances can lead to increased inflammation of the throat. You can also suck on lozenges to keep your throat moist. Avoid medicines that contain menthol as they can irritate your throat.
3. Medication
Most infectious laryngitis cases are due to viruses and go away with time. In some rare cases, laryngitis is because of bacterial infection and the doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
Long-term treatment of laryngitis is meant to treat the underlying cause, and will therefore differ from treatment for acute laryngitis. Your doctor may recommend pain relievers, antihistamines, or a glucocorticosteroid.
4. An operation
If your chronic Laryngitis has resulted in loose or paralyzed vocal cords or vocal cord polyps, it is severe. In these cases, the doctor may suggest surgery if the polyps have caused a substantial dysfunction of your vocal cords.
The removal of vocal cord polyps is usually a simple outpatient procedure. They may suggest injections of collagen or surgery for paralyzed or loose vocal cords.
How to Avoid Laryngitis
To prevent your vocal cords from getting dry or irritated, heed the following advice:
- Don’t smoke and avoid secondhand smoke. Smoke dries the throat and the vocal cords get irritated.
- Limit caffeine and alcohol—this causes you to lose water in your body.
- Drink plenty of water. The fluids help keep mucus thin and comfortable to clear quickly from your throat.
- Stay away from spicy foods. Spicy foods can cause stomach acid to pass into the throat or esophagus, leading to heartburn or GERD.
- Eat healthily. Include whole grains, vegetables, and fruits in your diet. These foods contain vitamins A, E, and C and help maintain the healthy mucous membranes lining the throat.
- Try not to clear your throat too much. This causes the vocal cords to vibrate abnormally and may increase swelling. Clearing your throat also causes your throat to secrete more mucus, making you want to clear your throat again.
- Avoid infections in the upper respiratory tract. Wash your hands frequently and avoid contact with people who have common respiratory diseases like colds.
Enticare
Our team of otolaryngologists offer comprehensive ENT services and we’re here to help. If you’ve been struggling with laryngitis, contact us today.