Laryngitis is inflammation of the voice box (larynx) causing hoarseness. It is usually caused by a viral infection such as a cold. Other causes include excessive talking, yelling, or singing; smoking; and reflux of stomach acid into the voice-box area. In most cases, the voice box heals in seven to ten days.
Prevention
- Rest your voice as soon as you start to feel hoarse
- Avoid smoking
Treatment
Home Care
- Rest your voice. Do not yell or sing and avoid talking, including whispering, as much as possible
- Avoid smoking
- Treat your cold symptoms (see “Colds”) if you feel that you have a cold associated with hoarseness
- Drink plenty of water
- Drink warm liquids to soothe the throat
- Take Tylenol® or Advil® for sore-throat pain
- Treat any heartburn (see “Heart burn”) symptoms
- Treat any allergies (see “Allergies/hay fever”) you may be experiencing
Professional Care
Seek medical attention if:
- You develop high fever, chills, or other signs of bacterial infection
- You have night sweats or are losing weight
- The hoarseness persists for more than two weeks
- You experience breathing difficulty with hoarseness
- You develop hoarseness lasting several days absent any apparent trigger