Get Facts About Laryngitis

Laryngitis, a fairly common cold-weather ailment, can affect children and adults. But do you understand the difference between laryngitis and other respiratory conditions that pop up during the winter? We recently spoke with Abbi Peña, a nurse practitioner at Franciscan ExpressCare, to better understand this common condition.

About Laryngitis

The larynx – or voice box – produces sound when air passes through it. It contains the vocal cords, which vibrate to produce sounds. But overuse, irritation or infection can trigger laryngitis.

“With laryngitis, the voice larynx becomes inflamed, leading to hoarseness, difficulty speaking, and sometimes complete loss of voice,” Peña said.

Other symptoms of laryngitis can include:

Laryngitis signs and symptoms can include:

• Weak voice or voice loss
• Tickling sensation and rawness in your throat
• Sore throat
• Dry throat
• Dry cough

Most cases of laryngitis are acute – they come on suddenly and don’t last for more than a week or so. In rarer cases, people can have chronic (long-term) laryngitis that lasts for more than three weeks.

Laryngitis Causes

A viral infection, such as the common cold or influenza, causes most cases of laryngitis. Other causes of laryngitis include:

• Acute vocal strain – caused by overusing your voice, as in yelling or singing
• Chronic conditions – such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Exposure to certain irritants – such as cigarette smoke or workplace chemicals

Laryngitis Treatments

Treatment for laryngitis depends on the underlying cause:

• For acute laryngitis, rest and drinking plenty of fluids is the fastest way to recover. Usually, your doctor won’t need to prescribe antibiotics for acute laryngitis. 
• For chronic laryngitis, your doctor will treat the underlying condition causing the inflammation. 

“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.

“You do not need to stay home unless you have a fever or other symptoms that would prohibit you from attending work or school,” Peña explains.

Reducing The Risk Of Laryngitis

Thankfully, you can take measures to reduce your risk of developing laryngitis. These include:

• Avoiding secondhand smoke
• Avoiding spicy foods and other foods that trigger stomach acid
• Eating a healthy diet rich in vegetables, fruits and whole grains
• Increasing how much water you drink each day
• Limiting how much alcohol and caffeine you drink each day
• Not smoking
• Practicing good hand hygiene (regular washing or sanitizing) to avoid infections