Medicines for Laryngitis

What it is

Laryngitis is inflammation of the larynx (voice box), which affects the vocal cords and causes the voice to become hoarse, husky, weak, or lost altogether. It may come with a sore or dry throat, a persistent urge to clear the throat, a dry cough, and a feeling of a lump in the throat. Most cases are acute (short-lived) and caused by a viral infection (often as part of a cold), or by overusing the voice (such as shouting, singing or prolonged talking); these usually settle within a week or two. Laryngitis can also be longer-lasting (chronic), for example from ongoing irritation such as smoking, acid reflux affecting the throat, allergies, or persistent voice strain. It is usually not serious, but because a persistently hoarse voice can occasionally be a sign of another condition (including, rarely, cancer of the larynx), a hoarse voice lasting more than about three weeks should be checked.

How it is treated

Most acute laryngitis needs no specific treatment and gets better on its own, so care focuses on helping the voice recover and easing symptoms. The most helpful measure is resting the voice — speaking as little as possible and avoiding whispering (which can strain the cords more than gentle normal speech) — along with staying well hydrated, breathing moist air (such as steam), avoiding smoking and irritants, and using simple measures for any sore throat. Because most cases are viral, antibiotics are not usually needed. For chronic laryngitis, treating the underlying cause is key — such as stopping smoking, managing acid reflux, treating allergies, and, for voice strain, guidance from a speech and language therapist. A hoarse voice that lasts more than three weeks, or comes with other worrying features, is assessed (which may include looking at the voice box) to identify the cause. The reassuring message is that most laryngitis settles on its own with voice rest, but a persistently hoarse voice should be checked.