LaryngitisSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Laryngitis
Laryngitis is swelling and irritation (inflammation) of the voice box (larynx). The problem is most often associated with hoarseness or loss of voice.
Hoarseness - laryngitis
The voice box (larynx) is located at the top of the airway to the lungs (trachea). The larynx contains the vocal cords. When the vocal cords become inflamed or infected, they swell. This can cause hoarseness. Sometimes, the airway can get blocked.
The most common form of laryngitis is an infection caused by a virus. It may also be caused by:
- Allergies
- Bacterial infection
- Bronchitis
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Injury to the throat
- Irritants and chemicals
- Overuse of the voice
Laryngitis often occurs with an upper respiratory infection, which is typically caused by a virus.
Several forms of laryngitis occur in children that can lead to a dangerous or fatal respiratory blockage. These forms include:
- Croup
- Epiglottitis
Symptoms may include:
- Fever
- Hoarseness
- Swollen lymph nodes or glands in the neck
Laryngitis is often caused by a virus, so antibiotics likely will not help. Your health care provider will make this decision.
Resting your voice helps to reduce inflammation of the vocal cords. A humidifier may soothe the scratchy feeling that comes with laryngitis. Decongestants and pain medicines may relieve the symptoms of an upper respiratory infection.
Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center
Lee Akst, M.D., specializes in treating the larynx (voicebox), in particular the treatment of voice and swallowing disorders. He is a leading laryngologist in office-based procedures such as vocal fold injection augmentation, pulsed KTP laser treatment, and laryngeal botox injection. In the operating room, Dr. Akst specializes in phonosurgery for the treatment of vocal cord disease, with emphasis on voice restoration and improvement. A strong focus of his practice involves the use of pulsed angiolytic lasers, which allow for subspecialized care of laryngeal papillomas, laryngeal dysplasia, and early vocal cord cancers while preserving the quality and strength of the voice. Dr. Akst is a national leader in the field of laryngology and serves in leadership roles for the American Laryngological Association, the American Broncho-Esophagological Association, and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. He lectures extensively on the treatment of laryngeal disease, teaching other physicians how to care for patients with voice and swallowing concerns. His research interests include the development of robotic laryngeal surgery, the study of voice and swallowing complaints in the elderly, and the advancement of pulsed lasers for the treatment of laryngeal diseases with a focus on leukoplakia. This provider is registered with the Florida Department of Health to perform telehealth services for patients in Florida. Dr. Akst is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Laryngitis. His top areas of expertise are Spasmodic Dysphonia, Laryngitis, Perichondritis, Endoscopy, and Laryngectomy.
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Paul Bryson is an Otolaryngologist in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Bryson has been practicing medicine for over 26 years and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Laryngitis. His top areas of expertise are Laryngitis, Spasmodic Dysphonia, Palatopharyngeal Incompetence, Cordotomy, and Endoscopy.
Baylor College Of Medicine - Otolaryngology
After completing residency training in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Dr. Ongkasuwan went on to complete fellowships in Pediatric Otolaryngology and Laryngology Care of the Professional Voice. She sees both adult and pediatric patients with voice, airway, and swallowing disorders. At the Baylor College of Medicine Institute for Voice and Swallowing and the Texas Children's Hospital Voice Clinic, Dr. Ongkasuwan combines state of the art imaging technology with a holistic multidisciplinary approach to laryngeal disorders. Dr. Ongkasuwan is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Laryngitis. Her top areas of expertise are Laryngitis, Croup, Spasmodic Dysphonia, Endoscopy, and Laryngectomy.
Laryngitis that is not caused by a serious condition often gets better on its own.
In rare cases, severe respiratory distress develops. This requires immediate medical attention.
Contact your provider if:
- A small child who is not teething has difficulty breathing, swallowing, or is drooling
- A child less than 3 months old has hoarseness
- Hoarseness has lasted for more than 1 week in a child, or 2 weeks in an adult
To prevent getting laryngitis:
- Try to avoid people who have upper respiratory infections during cold and flu season.
- Wash your hands often.
- Do not strain your voice.
- Stop smoking. This can help prevent tumors of the head and neck or lungs, which can lead to hoarseness.
Summary: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), considered one of the greatest global threats by the WHO, justifies the development of initiatives to promote appropriate antibiotic use-especially in primary care, where most antibiotics in France are prescribed and where misuse remains common. We are proposing a cluster-randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a bimodal intervention combining: ...
Summary: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder characterized by the regurgitation of gastric contents into the esophagus.It can also present in an atypical manner such as chest pain, dental erosions, chronic cough, laryngitis, or asthma i.e. extra gastroesophageal symptoms. Sucralfate is a unique anti-ulcer drug and is a basic aluminum salt of sucrose octa-sulfate. I...
Published Date: October 09, 2024
Published By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Allen CT, Nussenbaum B, Merati AL. Acute and chronic laryngopharyngitis. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 61.
Flint PW. Throat disorders. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 397.
Rodrigues KK, Roosevelt GE. Acute inflammatory upper airway obstruction (croup, epiglottitis, laryngitis, and bacterial tracheitis). In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier;2025:chap 433.