What Is Laryngitis?

Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx (also known as the “voice box”). Generally, this causes your voice to sound hoarse or raspy for a short-term or long-term period. Sometimes, it causes a total loss of the voice. Other possible symptoms include soreness or dryness of the throat or a dry cough. Most people find it lasts no longer than 2 weeks.

When laryngitis lasts for longer than 2 weeks, it is considered chronic. If this is the case, you should definitely consult a doctor as it could be caused by more severe issues.

What Causes Laryngitis?

The larynx inflammation is generally caused by overuse (e.g. vocal strain), irritation or infection (e.g. a virus). The vocal cords inside the larynx become inflamed or irritated, and when they swell they distort the sounds produced by passing air over them.

Disclaimer: The statements made on this page have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. If a condition persists, please contact your physician or healthcare provider. The information provided is not a substitute for a face-to-face consultation with a healthcare provider, and should not be construed as medical advice.

What Are Conventional Medical Treatments For Laryngitis?

Generally, it isn’t necessary for you to see a doctor unless the laryngitis lasts more than two weeks or unless you have other symptoms like coughing up blood, not being able to breathe or swallow or increasing pain. If your child has laryngitis, you should seek immediate medical attention if they have a fever higher than 103 F, have difficulty breathing or swallowing or if they drool more than usual or make high-pitched noisy breathing sounds when inhaling.

Don’t try to clear your throat or whisper. Avoid decongestants as these tend to dry out the throat. You should rest your voice and drink plenty of fluids (water, not alcohol or caffeinated drinks, as these take water from the cells). Use a humidifier or vaporizer to add moisture to the air. Don’t smoke or breathe other people’s smoke. If you use your voice strenuously while you have laryngitis, it could damage your vocal cords.

In most cases antibiotics won’t help. In some cases, corticosteroids are prescribed, but generally, your doctor will just advise you to rest your voice.

When laryngitis is chronic, your doctor will try to address any underlying causes, such as smoking, heartburn, or drinking too much alcohol. In some cases, you may be referred to a specialist.

What Are Alternative Treatments For Laryngitis?

If you frequently get laryngitis, you may like to avoid eating spicy foods like chilies, as they can lead to stomach acid, heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Eat lots of whole grains, fruits and vegetables as they contain vitamins A, E and C, which help keep the mucus membranes that line the throat healthy. Some say drinking ginger tea (made from fresh ginger root) or eating garlic may help. Others recommend gargling with warm salty water. Try to avoid getting respiratory infections (see Essential Oils For Cold And Flu Symptoms). Of course, there are essential oils for laryngitis that many find helpful. See the Useful Essential Oils tab for details.

Disclaimer: The statements made on this page have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. If a condition persists, please contact your physician or healthcare provider. The information provided is not a substitute for a face-to-face consultation with a healthcare provider, and should not be construed as medical advice.