Laryngitis is a type of inflammation in the larynx (voice box) in the throat because of overuse, infection, and other irritation. Inside the larynx are vocal cords present, which are two folds of mucous membrane covering cartilage and muscle. Generally, your vocal cords open and close gently, creating sounds from their vibration and movement.
But with laryngitis, your vocal cords get irritated and inflamed. It makes the vocal cords swell, which distorts the sounds generated by air passing over them. As a result, your voice seems like hoarse. In some cases of laryngitis, your voice can become virtually undetectable. This condition may be short-lived or long-lasting. Most cases of laryngitis are induced by a temporary viral infection and are not serious. Persistent hoarseness can sometimes signal a more serious, hidden health condition in the body.
Symptoms
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In most cases of laryngitis, symptoms remain less than a couple of weeks and are occurred by something minor such as a virus. Less often, laryngitis signs are caused by something more severe or long-lasting.
Here are the symptoms of laryngitis:
- Hoarseness
- Tickling sensation in your throat
- Sore throat
- Dry throat
- Weak voice or voice loss or rawness in throat
- Dry cough
What causes laryngitis?
Acute laryngitis
Acute laryngitis is a short condition caused by overuse of the vocal cords. It can also occur in different infections. Treating the underlying condition can prevent laryngitis. Here are the causes of laryngitis:
- Viral Infections
- Bacterial Infections
- Drinking Excess Alcohol
- Talking Loudly Or Yelling
Chronic laryngitis
Chronic laryngitis occurs from a long-term illness to irritants. It is commonly more severe and causes a long-time effect than acute laryngitis. Here are the causes of chronic laryngitis:
- Frequent sinus infection
- Acid reflux
- more exposure to harmful allergens and chemicals
- Frequent sinus infections
- Overusing voice
- Smoking
- Yeast infections
- Asthma inhaler more use
- Vocal cord cancer
Home Remedies for Laryngitis
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar shows antimicrobial properties. Thus, it may treat laryngitis occurred by infections. Apple cider vinegar also provides anti-inflammatory properties, which may help to lower the voice box swelling.
Ingredients
- 2-tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1-teaspoon honey
- A glass of water
How to use it?
- Combine apple vinegar and honey with water and drink it.
- Alternatively, dilute one tablespoon of apple vinegar in one glass of warm water.
- Gargle by this solution.
- Follow this remedy 2-3 times a day.
Ginger
Ginger provides potential antimicrobial activities. It may benefit from treating the throat infection.
Ingredients
- Ginger root
- Water
How to use it?
- Make slices of ginger root.
- Cover it using some water and boil for 10 minutes.
- Strain the liquid and wait for it cools down to room temperature.
- Drink one teaspoon of this decoction.
- Follow this remedy 3-4 times a day.
Lemon and Honey
Honey provides astringent properties, which is beneficial for soothing a sore throat. Lemon juice also provides antimicrobial properties. It clears your throat infection.
Ingredients
- 1-tablespoon honey
- 4-5 drops lemon juice
How to use it?
- Include lemon juice with honey and mix well.
- Consume this mixture.
- Follow this remedy two times a day.
Pineapple Juice
Pineapple juice provides an active enzyme called bromelain. This enzyme consists of anti-inflammation properties. It also lowers the excess mucus and swelling.
Ingredients
Pineapple juice
How to use it?
- Consume one cup of fresh pineapple juice at room temperature.
- Follow this remedy once in a day.
Aloe Vera Juice
Aloe vera juice is best for treating laryngitis occurred by acid reflux, especially chronic type. This juice provides effective and safe treatment for lowering GERD symptoms.
Ingredients
- 1 oz. aloe vera juice
- 2 oz. water
How to use it?
- Combine aloe vera juice and consume one cup.
- Follow this remedy multiple times in a day.
Onion
Onion holds expectorant properties. It is useful to treat laryngitis and provide relief from mucus and cough.
Ingredients
- A glass of warm water
- 3-4 medium-sized onions
- Four cups of water
- One tablespoon honey
- some drops of lemon juice.
How to use it?
- Make some pieces of onion and simmer in four cups of water till the mixture get thick like syrup.
- Include lemon and honey in the mixture.
- Drink this mix slowly 1-2 times a day.
Eucalyptus Essential Oils
Eucalyptus essential oils provide anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It may also help to relieve laryngitis symptoms.
Ingredients
- A bowl of hot water
- 4-5 drops eucalyptus oil
- A large towel
How to use it?
- Combine eucalyptus essential oil in the water bowl.
- Cover your head using a towel and breath in the steam from the bowl for 10 minutes.
- Follow this remedy two times a day.
Salt Water
Gargling with warm salt water may eliminate microorganisms and infections in the throat and mouth. It may aid in treating laryngitis.
Ingredients
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- A glass of warm water
How to use it?
- Include salt in the warm water glass and combine it.
- Then gargle with this water.
- Use this remedy 3-4 times in a day.
Note: More salt may irritate the throat further. However, it is important to use the only suggested amount of salt.
Garlic
Garlic also a helpful home remedy for treating laryngitis. It provides an allicin compound, which provides antimicrobial properties.
Ingredients
One garlic clove
How to use it?
- Slice the garlic in two and keep in your month on sides.
- Gently keep sucking the garlic juice.
- After some time, spit the garlic and wash your mouth with clear water.
- Do this procedure a few times daily.
Licorice Root
Licorice root also helpful for treating laryngitis. It provides antiviral and antimicrobial properties.
Ingredients
- One teaspoon dried licorice root
- 1-1 1/2 cups water
How to use it?
- Boil the given amount of licorice root in water for 3-5 minutes.
- String the solution and consume it fresh.
- Follow this remedy for 2-3 times daily.
Note:
Avoid this remedy if you are suffering from blood pressure and other major diseases.
Mullein Herb
Mullein herb also a helpful remedy for sore throat and inflammation occurred by laryngitis. It provides anti-inflammation properties.
Ingredients
- 1-2 teaspoons dried mullein flowers
- 1 cup boiling water
How to use it?
- Steep the mullein herb for ten minutes in warm water.
- Strain the mullein flower tea and drink it slowly.
- Perform this remedy 2-3 times a day.
Slippery Elm
Slippery Elm consists of mucilage, which is a gel substance. It helps to coat the irritated throat and relieve inflamed tissues.
Ingredients
- 2-tablespoons Slippery Elm
- 1 cup of water
How to use it?
- Boil slippery elm herb in the water.
- Simmer this mix for 10-12 minutes.
- Use 1-2 tablespoons of this syrup.
- Consume Slippery Elm 2-3 times in a day.
Note: This remedy is not advised for pregnant ladies and breastfeeding women.
Laryngitis in Children and Infants
Children and infants are more prone to get laryngitis if they are in frequent contact with other children. Both bacterial and viral infections can spread quickly from child to child. Laryngitis can also increase if the child yells or sings a lot. It causes bumps to create on their vocal cords.
If you notice the child’s voice sounds hoarse or weak or they say their throat is hurting, make sure that your child gets enough rest. Also, make them drink plenty of fluids to ease viral laryngitis. Laryngitis usually gets normal within two weeks.
If your child’s signs do not change with time and become even worse, discuss it with a doctor. A doctor can decide if other factors are increasing laryngitis or if an antibiotic for bacterial infection is required.
Epiglottitis
Certain signs could also show your child is undergoing a serious bacterial infection near your voice box named as epiglottis. The epiglottis is the flap of the membrane that covers the larynx and trachea when your drink or eat. It holds the liquid and food particles out of the lungs.
Epiglottitis is a contamination of the epiglottis and its surrounding tissues. During epiglottitis, membranes get swelling, which blocks the throat, which can be difficult to treat. Take your expert help if your child feeling:
- Extra saliva
- Swallowing difficulties
- Problem breathing
- Muffled voice
- High pitched and noisy sounds while breathing
- fever
Typically, your kid will require a hospital stay to get treatment. Your child will be given IV antibiotics and often dexamethasone or glucocorticoids. Epiglottitis affects children age 2-6 years. But a child of any age or any adult can get affected. The Hib vaccine saves children from the bacteria of Haemophilus Influenzae type b. The vaccine has helped to lower epiglottitis cases that occurred by these bacteria.
When to Talk to A Doctor?
You could also have some common signs, which mean the condition same as laryngitis, including:
- Lesions, such as cysts, ulcers, or nodules on vocal cords
- Muscle tension dysphonia, such as vocal condition occurred by abnormal use of vocal muscles.
- Vocal cord paralysis
Serious indications include the following conditions:
- Coughing with Blood
- Difficulty Swallowing
- Continue Fever
- Throat Pain
Examine with your doctor if your symptoms do not cleat in a week or get worse.
Diagnosing Laryngitis
Laryngitis affects your voice box and vocal cords. Your doctor often begins with a visual diagnosis, using a specific mirror to view vocal cords. They might also do a laryngoscopy to expand the voice box for easy viewing. During a laryngoscopy, your doctor attaches a flexible and thin tube with a microscopic camera in your nose or mouth. Your doctor then finds out the following signs of laryngitis:
- Redness
- Lesions Above The Voice Box
- Extensive Swelling
- Vocal Cord Swelling
If your doctor notices a suspicious mass or lesion, they may recommend a biopsy to prevent throat cancer. During a biopsy, your doctor eliminates a small tissue piece to examine in the lab.
Procedures to Relieve Symptoms
If a virus has produced acute laryngitis, signs usually go without prescription in a week. Physicians treat bacterial laryngitis with antibiotics, although this type is rare.
Your doctor might recommend corticosteroids, medicines to lower inflammation and treat both chronic and acute laryngitis.
These treatments help to lower vocal cord and voice box swelling. Corticosteroids can heal and relieve symptoms of laryngitis, especially acute viral laryngitis. For chronic laryngitis, the best treatment will show the cause of the underlying problem.
Like acute laryngitis, other conditions like vocal cord paralysis and dysphonia can be treated with rest, vocal therapy offered by a speech pathologist, or minor procedures.
In some cases of vocal fold paralysis, treatment can add phono surgery. Phonosurgery changes the vocal cords’ shape or position to lower the tension that occurred by the voice.
Possible Complications
In some rare cases, vocal cord inflammation can affect respiratory distress, which needs immediate medical attention.
The bacterial infection cause epiglottitis. It can also go beyond the epiglottis and larynx to other areas in the respiratory tract and bloodstream. If you have a bacterial infection, then follow the doctor’s treatment plan to stop the infection from spreading.
If an underlying health condition like throat cancer or vocal cord paralysis is causing laryngitis, complications can increase if not treated. Vocal cord paralysis can affect swallowing and breathing. Food can also affect the lungs and cause pneumonia.
Advanced throat cancer can be temporary and need surgery or chemotherapy for treatment. Tell your doctor every symptom of laryngitis, such as speak, eat, or breath, if causing intense pain. The earlier you address the laryngitis symptoms, the more likely your doctor can treat the possible conditions.
Prevention Tips for Laryngitis
- Drink enough water every day, which keeps your throat hydrated and clear the mucus.
- Skip fried and spicy foods because they cause to irritate the tissues in the throat and trigger acid reflux.
- Avoid smoking.
- Stay away from wood dust, pollen, and chemical fumes.
- Reduce alcohol and caffeine consumption as these may increase fluid loss and dehydrate your body.
- Follow a healthy diet containing veggies, fruits, whole grains with vitamins A, C, and E.
- Wash your hands before eating anything.
- Use a humidifier in dry weather to moist your home.
Acute laryngitis gets resolves in seven days. Utilizing the home cures examined above can help quicker alleviation. If the dryness continues than half a month, then it is ideal to analyzed by a specialist to distinguish the primary reason, such as bacterial contamination or heartburn.