Laryngitis Treatment - Symptoms & Home Remedies

Laryngitis (LAIR-in-JIE-tis) is an irritation and swelling of the voice box and the area around it. Acute laryngitis may occur as an isolated infection or as part of a generalized bacterial or viral upper respiratory tract infection. Repeated attacks of acute laryngitis cause inflammatory changes associated with chronic laryngitis.

Causes

The most common cause of laryngitis is a viral infection. Laryngitis does not always end when the viral infection is over. The hoarseness may continue for several days to a week or longer after the infection has been treated. Laryngitis can also be caused by a bacterial infection.

Other causes of laryngitis include: cheering at a sporting event, singing, and talking very loudly for excessive periods of time. Environmental causes such as smoking or being in an environment with second-hand tobacco smoke can also cause laryngitis.

Signs and symptoms

Acute laryngitis typically begins with hoarseness, ranging from mild to complete loss of voice. Associated clinical features include pain (especially when swallowing or speaking), dry cough, fever, laryngeal edema, and malaise. In chronic laryngitis, persistent hoarseness is usually the only symptom. In reflux laryngitis, hoarseness and dysphagia are present but heartburn isn't.

Environmental causes such as smoking or being in an environment with second-hand tobacco smoke can also cause laryngitis. In the industrial or school environment, exposure to irritating chemicals can also lead to similar symptoms.

Diagnosis

Indirect laryngoscopy confirms the diagnosis by revealing red, inflamed and, occasionally, hemorrhagic vocal cords,with rounded rather than sharp edges and exudate. Bilateral swelling may be present. In severe cases or if toxicity is a concern, a culture of the exudate is obtained.

Treatment

Primary treatment consists of resting the voice. For viral infection, symptomatic care includes analgesics and throat lozenges for pain relief. Bacterial infection requires antibiotic therapy. Severe, acute laryngitis may necessitate hospitalization. When laryngeal edema results in airway obstruction, tracheotomy may be necessary. In chronic laryngitis, effective treatment must eliminate the underlying cause. In reflux laryngitis, postural and dietary changes along with antacids and H2-receptor antagonists combine for effective treatment.

If you smoke, stop. In addition, if you're a smoker and develop persistent hoarseness, see your doctor and get a thorough examination of your vocal cords to be sure cancer isn't present. Detected early, cancer of the larynx generally can be successfully treated with surgery or radiation.

If alcohol consumption is responsible for your laryngitis, stop drinking. If you can't voluntarily give up alcohol, get treatment to help.

Home remedies to cure laryngitis

• Barberry is used to ease inflammation and infection of the respiratory tracts including pharyngitis, sinusitis, rhinitis (nasal congestion), and bronchitis.
• Drink warm liquids like hot Tang or honey and lemon.
• Echinacea ( Echinacea spp.) tincture taken in water every hour for 48 hours is recommended to boost the immune system.
• Gargle with warm salt solution (1/2 tsp salt in 1 cup of water).

Is laryngitis contagious?

There are generally no risks to others. Infectious causes of laryngitis may be contagious.

Prevention

To prevent laryngitis, try not to talk or yell in a way that hurts your voice.  A humidifier that puts more water into the air may also help keep your throat from drying out. Also, never smoke and try not to be around people who are smoking.

Tonight, when you open your mouth and say "good night," you'll know where the sound of those words come from. And, if that "good night" comes out like the ribbit of a frog, you'll know that it could be laryngitis!