Laryngitis : Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

What is Laryngitis?

Laryngitis is an inflammation of your larynx (voice box). This small part of your throat connects to your windpipe and this is the key for your talking. Laryngitis occurs because of infection, irritation or overuse of the vocal cords.

When your vocal cords function normally, they open and close smoothly, producing sounds through vibration. However, when your vocal cords are swollen, the sounds that pass through them are distorted. As a result, your voice sounds weak or hoarse.

Acute laryngitis only lasts a short time and goes away in two weeks or less. But laryngitis that doesn’t go away can last for weeks or even months. It might need care if it lasts a long time.

The larynx is a small but very important part of the body that helps you talk, breathe, and swallow safely.

Case Study of “Riya’s Faced Challenges Overcoming Laryngitis”

Riyas Story :
Riya is a 32-year-old girl who loves singing in her free time. She recently noticed her throat sore and scratchy and caught a cold during the last few days. 

Laryngitis Symptoms of Riyas :
After a few days, Riya noticed that her voice sounded very Husky and raspy. Her throat felt more difficult, and speaking loudly was feeling problem or singing was almost impossible. Eventually, her voice became too weak to talk to someone.

Diagnosis and Treatment:
Riya visited her doctor,  and then the doctor told her she was has acute laryngitis. The doctor explained that her voice box (larynx) was inflamed due to her cold and overusing her voice. The doctor advised to rest her voice as much as possible, drink warm water, and avoid talking too much. Her doctor also recommended staying hydrated and using a humidifier at home to keep her throat from getting too dry.

Result :
Riya followed her doctor’s advice, and within a week, her voice started to improve. She rested her voice as much as she could and avoided straining it. By the end of two weeks, her laryngitis had cleared up, and she could sing in her free time without any issues.

Diagnosis:
This experience taught Riya the importance of resting her voice, especially when she was feeling a cold. She now knows that talking or singing too much can increase the chance of laryngitis and that can be difficult to recover.

Causes of Laryngitis

Laryngitis can be caused by several things, including:

• Viral infection: The most common cause of laryngitis is a viral infection, such as a cold or the flu. 
• Bacterial infection: In rare cases, laryngitis can be caused by a bacterial infection. 
•  Poor vocal hygiene: Straining your voice, squealing, or shouting can cause laryngitis. 
• Smoking or vaping: Smoking and vaping can cause laryngitis. 
• Allergies: Allergies due to dust, fumes, or other allergens can cause laryngitis. 
•  Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Acid reflux, or stomach acid backing up into the esophagus, can cause laryngitis. 
•  Inhaled medications: Some inhaled medications can cause laryngitis. 
•  Autoimmune disorders: Autoimmune disorders like granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener’s disease) or pemphigoid/pemphigus can cause laryngitis. 
•  Work-related exposure: Exposure to irritating chemicals or specks of dust at work can cause chronic laryngitis. 

Also Read  : 7 Tips on How to Avoid the Flu and Cold This Winter Season

Types of Laryngitis

Laryngitis is an infection of the voice box. It can affect your body in the short term or long term. Here are the main types are followed:

1. Acute Laryngitis:

This is the short-term type of laryngitis, often caused by a cold, the flu, or overusing your voice (like shouting or singing too much). Acute laryngitis usually doesn’t affect you for a long time. Most of the time, it clears up in less than two weeks. 

Simple rest and home care are often enough to help it go away its own from our body. People who are suffering from laryngitis should try to rest their voices, drink warm liquids, and stay hydrated to feel better. An affected person can avoid irritation like smoking or shouting which can help their throat feel better quickly. 

1. Chronic Laryngitis:
   

Chronic laryngitis lasts a long time, often several weeks or months. It can be caused by so many things like smoking, acid reflux (heartburn), frequent exposure to irritants (such as dust or chemicals), or using your voice too much over time. Chronic laryngitis should need medical treatment to fully heal. You should Rest your voice and change your lifestyle, like avoiding smoking or irritants, which can help you. But sometimes, if it doesn’t improve, a doctor can help you. 

Laryngitis Symptoms

If you have laryngitis, you may notice these common symptoms:

• Hoarse Voice: Your voice might sound rough, weak, or raspy. Sometimes you may even lose your voice.
• Sore Throat: Your throat could feel painful or scratchy.
• Dry Cough: A cough that doesn’t bring up mucus and feels irritated on your throat.

Other Symptoms:

• Difficulty Swallowing: Swallowing food or drinks may be uncomfortable.
• Fever: Some people have low fever issues, especially if laryngitis is from an infection.

Diagnosis of Laryngitis

To find out if you have laryngitis, the doctor will:

• • Ask About Your Health History

• • Do a Physical Exam

When to Seek Medical Attention

You should see a doctor if:

• Your symptoms feel raspy for more than two weeks.
• You suddenly lose your voice almost completely.
• You have trouble swallowing or breathing.
• You feel very sick or have a high fever.

If any of these symptoms happen, you should discuss it with a doctor. This will help you to make sure it’s not something more serious.

Also Read : What Is Throat Culture Test?

Laryngitis Treatment

If you have laryngitis, then there are so many treatment options that can help you feel better and recover faster. Laryngitis is usually caused by a viral infection, overusing your voice, or irritants in the air. Here are some simple ways to treat and manage the symptoms of laryngitis:

1. Laryngitis Home Remedies

• Rest Your Voice: One of the best things you can do for laryngitis is to rest your voice. Avoid talking, or shouting. That should be giving your vocal cords a break that will help them heal faster.
• Stay Hydrated: Drink lots of water, herbal tea, or warm broths. This helps keep your throat moist and soothes the irritation. Avoid drinks that can dry your throat, like alcohol or caffeine.
• Use a Humidifier: you can use a humidifier that can make your breathing easier and prevent your throat from dryness. If you don’t have a humidifier, you can try taking a warm shower or breathing in steam from a bowl of hot water.
• Gargle with Salt Water: Gargling with warm salt water can help relieve throat pain and reduce swelling. You should try Half a teaspoon salt mix in a glass with warm water and gargle several times a day.

2. Over-the-Counter Laryngitis Medications

• Throat Lozenges or Sprays: Sucking on throat lozenges or using throat sprays can give you temporary relief from a sore throat. They help numb the area and make it feel less irritated.
• Cough Syrups: If you have a dry cough, you can use cough syrup it may help calm it down. Choose one that is designed for dry, non-productive coughs. But be careful because some cough syrups can have side effects.

3. Prescription Laryngitis Medications (if needed)

• In most cases, laryngitis is caused by a viral infection and it will get better on its own. However, if your laryngitis is caused by a bacterial infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection.
• Antibiotics are not effective for viral infections, so they are only prescribed if a bacterial infection is the cause. Your doctor will decide if antibiotics are necessary for your symptoms and related to your medical history.

Laryngitis : When to See a Doctor?

Most of the cases of laryngitis go away within a couple of weeks with self-home care. However, if your symptoms don’t improve, if you have trouble breathing or swallowing, or if you have a fever that hasn’t gone away the last few days, you should discuss it with a doctor. They can determine the cause of your laryngitis and suggest the best treatment options for you.

Also Read : Cough and Cold: Meaning, Symptoms, Causes & Diagnosis

Laryngitis Prevention Measures

Laryngitis can be uncomfortable and irritating, but there are simple ways to reduce the risk of getting it. Some tips are as follows –

1. Take Care of Your Voice

• Avoid Yelling or Whispering: Shouting, or speaking too loudly places a lot of strain on your vocal cords, which can lead to laryngitis. Similarly, whispering can be hard on your voice too, as it forces you to use your vocal cords in a way that can cause strain. 

2. Protect Your Throat from Irritants

• Avoid Smoking: Smoking is one of the biggest causes of throat irritation and it can also damage your vocal cords for a long time. so it’s important to avoid something for fast recovery.
• Limit Exposure to Chemicals and Pollutants: You should try to avoid breathing in harmful chemicals, dust, or pollution, as they can irritate your throat and increase the risk of developing laryngitis. If you work in an environment with a lot of dust or chemicals, make sure to wear protective gear like a mask to help protect your throat.

3. Stay Healthy & Hygienic

• Avoid Colds and Infections: Laryngitis can be caused by viral infections like the common cold or flu. Wash your hands often, avoid touching your face, and stay away from people who are sick. 
• Boost Your Immune System: Eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and staying active can help strengthen your immune system, making it less likely that you’ll get sick and develop laryngitis.

Keeping your vocal cords healthy and practising good habits will keep your throat in great shape and prevent discomfort down the road.

Also Read : 10 Ways To Boost Your Immune System During Cold And Flu Season

Complications of Laryngitis

Laryngitis is often a temporary condition that goes away with rest and simple care. However, in some cases, it can lead to complications or signal a more serious problem. It’s important to understand what could happen if laryngitis doesn’t improve or if it is left untreated.

1. Persistent Hoarseness

One of the most common problems of laryngitis is hoarseness or a raspy voice that lasts longer than expected. Normally, laryngitis should improve within two weeks.

If hoarseness continues for more than three weeks, it could be a sign of chronic laryngitis or another condition affecting the voice box. It’s high time you visit a doctor!

2. Airway Obstruction

In rare cases, airway obstruction can happen if the inflammation from laryngitis causes swelling that makes it harder to breathe. This can be especially dangerous for young children or people with pre-existing respiratory conditions. Symptoms of airway obstruction include trouble breathing, noisy breathing, or a feeling of tightness in the throat.

3. When Laryngitis May Signal a More Serious Condition

• While most cases of laryngitis are caused by viral infections or overuse of the voice, sometimes it can be a sign of a more serious condition. If you have other symptoms, like a high fever, severe pain, difficulty swallowing, or coughing up blood, it could indicate a more serious infection, such as laryngeal cancer or a severe throat infection.
• Chronic laryngitis that lasts for months might be linked to long-term issues like acid reflux, smoking, or allergies, which can irritate the voice box and cause ongoing problems.
• If laryngitis lasts longer than two weeks, or if you have persistent symptoms that seem unusual, you should see a doctor for further evaluation. They may recommend additional tests, such as a laryngoscopy, to examine your vocal cords and determine the cause of the symptoms.

4. When to Seek Medical Help

• If you experience any of these signs, it’s important to see a doctor to make sure there’s no underlying serious condition:
  • Hoarseness on your throat that lasts longer than three weeks.
  • Difficulty in breathing or swallowing.
  • Severe pain or fever that doesn’t go away.
  • Coughing up blood or having a constant cough.

Consult an (ENT) specialist

Laryngitis : Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Laryngitis is a common condition that causes roughness, sore throat, and sometimes a dry cough.In most cases, laryngitis is temporary and can be treated with simple home remedies and over-the-counter medications. 

References 

1. Laryngitis. MedlinePlus [Internet].

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001385.htm. Accessed Nov. 10, 2024.

2. Acute Laryngitis. Medscape [Internet]. 

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/864671-overview?form=fpf . Accessed Nov. 12, 2024.

3. Laryngitis. MSD Manual[Internet].

https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/ear-nose-and-throat-disorders/laryngeal-disorders/laryngitis. Accessed Nov. 07, 2024.

4. Chronic laryngitis.  Harvard Medical School[Internet]. 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/chronic-laryngitis-a-to-z. Accessed Nov. 20, 2024.