Laryngitis: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Laryngitis happens when the larynx, the part of your throat that contains your vocal cords, becomes swollen or irritated. This can cause hoarseness, a sore throat, and noticeable changes in your voice.

In most cases, vocal cord inflammation develops after a viral infection, such as a cold or flu. It can also result from overusing your voice, exposure to smoke, or breathing very dry air.

Treatment is usually managed by an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist or your primary care provider. It often focuses on relieving symptoms, and when necessary, addressing the underlying cause.

Common symptoms

The main symptoms of inflamed vocal cords are:

• Hoarseness;

• A weak voice or loss of voice;

• Sore throat;

• Trouble speaking;

• Changes in voice tone.

Other symptoms, such as shortness of breath when speaking, difficulty swallowing, frequent choking, coughing, fatigue, or a burning sensation in the throat, may also occur. These could indicate a more serious condition, such as vocal cord paralysis or a tumor.

Based on the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), voice changes such as hoarseness or a strained voice should be evaluated by a clinician to determine the underlying cause.

For this reason, if you think you might have laryngitis, it’s best to see an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist or your primary care provider to determine the cause and find the most effective treatment.

Confirming a diagnosis

Laryngitis is diagnosed by an ENT or a primary care provider based on your symptoms and a physical exam, which includes looking at the larynx.

In most cases, you won’t need any additional tests. However, if your symptoms don’t improve after about three weeks of treatment, your provider may recommend a videolaryngoscopy to take a closer look at your vocal cords.

If necessary, your provider may take a sample of mucus from your vocal cords to test in a lab and determine which type of bacteria is causing the infection.

Possible causes

Inflammation of the vocal cords can be caused by:

• Flu or the common;

• Bacterial or fungal infection;

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD);

• Allergies;

• Smoking;

• Overuse of the voice;

• Chronic sinusitis.

In addition, vocal cord inflammation can also be caused by very dry air, breathing in smoke, orotracheal intubation, or frequent and excessive alcohol use.

Treatment options

Treatment for inflamed vocal cords (laryngitis) should be guided by your primary care provider or an ENT and varies depending on the cause.

The main treatments for laryngitis are:

1. Resting the voice

Voice rest may be recommended to help reduce swelling and inflammation in the vocal cords. This means limiting how much you talk and avoiding activities like yelling or singing.

This is especially important for people who rely heavily on their voice, such as singers or teachers.

2. Drinking plenty of water

Drinking plenty of water may be recommended because it helps increase hydration and moisture of the vocal cords. According to the NIDCD, staying hydrated and drinking plenty of water is a core habit for supporting vocal fold health.

It can also help thin mucus on the vocal folds, making it easier to clear.

It’s recommended to drink at least 2 liters (about 8 cups) of water per day in small sips.

3. Humidifying the air

Humidifying the air is especially recommended when the air is very dry, because it helps moisturize the airways and reduce irritation and inflammation of the vocal cords.

To humidify the air, you can use a humidifier or take a warm shower and breathe in the steam.

4. Avoiding contact with irritants

Avoiding irritants such as dust, smoke, cigarettes, strong odors, or chemicals helps reduce inflammation of the vocal cords and can ease symptoms.

It’s also recommended to avoid very hot or very cold foods, since they can further irritate the throat and worsen vocal cord inflammation.

5. Taking medications

Medications for laryngitis may be recommended by your clinician to relieve symptoms or to treat the underlying cause.

The main medications used for vocal cord inflammation are:

• Pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen;

• Antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, clarithromycin, or azithromycin;

• Antifungals, such as nystatin, fluconazole, or itraconazole;

• Antihistamines, such as loratadine or cetirizine;

• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone or prednisolone;

• Mucus-thinning medicines (mucolytics/expectorants), such as guaifenesin or acetylcysteine.

In addition, when vocal cord inflammation is linked to GERD, medications such as omeprazole, lansoprazole, or esomeprazole may be recommended, along with dietary changes.

6. Doing exercises

Exercises for inflamed vocal cords may be recommended, especially for people who use their voice for work, such as teachers, speakers, or singers.

These exercises should be done with guidance from a speech-language pathologist, who may recommend techniques like tongue vibration exercises or rolling the shoulders forward and backward, for example.

Home care

Home care for laryngitis, such as gargling with warm salt water, may help ease hoarseness or sore throat because it can have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects.

However, home treatment for vocal cord inflammation should not replace the treatment recommended by a healthcare provider.