Laryngitis is commonly caused by a viral infection, such as a cold or flu. Bacterial infection may also cause laryngitis, although this is rare. You can also get laryngitis if you strain or overuse your voice by yelling or after long periods of talking, shouting or singing.
Risk factors for laryngitis include: Having a respiratory infection, such as a cold, bronchitis or sinusitis. Exposure to irritating substances, such as cigarette smoke, excessive alcohol intake, stomach acid or workplace chemicals. Overusing your voice, by speaking too much, speaking too loudly, shouting or singing.
Other Possible Causes
Experiencing unexpected hoarseness or voice loss can indicate an underlying health condition. Other possible causes include: Acid reflux, known as heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). Growths on your vocal cord tissue, also called vocal nodules, polyps, cysts, and contact ulcers.
It depends. “If you rely on your voice for your job, make plans to see your doctor if your voice isn't better in two weeks,” he says. Risk factors such as a history of smoking, a history of cancer or other health concerns should prompt an evaluation for hoarseness that lingers beyond two to four weeks.
In most cases, laryngitis gets better within a week without treatment. See your GP if your symptoms are severe or haven't improved after two weeks.
A hoarse voice without a sore throat can occur when a non-inflammatory condition has caused loss of vocal cord function. This can be caused by overuse like yelling or speaking in an abnormal tone for long periods of time.
The most common cause of acute laryngitis is a viral infection, like an upper respiratory infection. You're more likely to get laryngitis if you're prone to: Colds. The flu.
Yes, stress (mental/emotional) is one of the more common causes of hoarseness.
Is Laryngitis Contagious? The viruses that laryngitis comes from aren't that contagious. The time laryngitis is most contagious is during the time frame when you have a fever. Bacterial and fungal infection-causing laryngitis is potentially contagious, but these occur less frequently.
Notably, the omicron variant is prone to cause severe laryngitis, resulting in fatal upper airway stenosis.
It's not a disease, but a catch-all word that means you've lost your voice. If it happens suddenly, it's called "acute" laryngitis. You can get it from a cold or overusing your voice. You can get long-term laryngitis if you breathe in something irritating, like smoke or chemical fumes.
Loss of voice can accompany many conditions that affect the throat such as viral sore throat, laryngitis, or mononucleosis. All of these conditions can be associated with fatigue as well. Fatigue is a nonspecific symptom that can be present along with almost any type of illness.
Laryngitis is commonly caused by a viral infection, such as a cold or flu.
Dr. Yiu says that hoarseness can also result from development of benign vocal cord lesions, such as cysts or polyps. In addition, hoarseness could be a symptom of vocal cord cancer or neurologic conditions like vocal cord paralysis or vocal tremor.
Antibiotics. If laryngitis is caused by a bacterial infection, your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics. Antifungals. If the laryngitis is related to a candida or yeast infection, you may be given an antifungal.
Most cases of acute laryngitis can be treated with home therapy including: Pain reliever/anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen. Warm, hydrating fluids. Vocal rest — use your voice as little as possible.
If your voice is hoarse for three or more weeks, you should see a health care provider, especially if you haven't had a cold, upper respiratory infection or the flu. You should also see a health care provider if you: Cough up blood. Develop difficulty breathing.
Unfortunately there's no way to tell if laryngitis is viral or bacterial based on symptoms alone. Viral laryngitis is the most common form. It often resolves after a few days to within a week. If your laryngitis lasts longer than that, talk with your healthcare provider about whether it may be bacterial.
If you lost your voice because of a viral illness, supportive care can usually help you get better. Dr. Tully recommends the following steps to help you through the healing process: Rest is best – Resting your vocal cords completely is the best type of treatment.
Voice rest can be helpful for acute cases of laryngitis, when your vocal cords are swollen and need a few days to recover. Discomfort and swelling should resolve within 24-48 hours of starting voice rest. Long-term voice rest is not recommended, except for patients recovering from vocal cord surgery.
Drinking warm water helps relieve pain and inflammation, and honey is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory substance. By fighting inflammation, it may help reduce pain and discomfort in the throat. Honey can also act as a cough suppressant.