Laryngitis is inflammation of the larynx (voice box) due to overuse, irritation, or some type of infection. Swollen vocal cords in the larynx make your voice hoarse, or sometimes cause you to be unable to speak fully. Most cases of laryngitis will resolve on its own within a week and the healing process can be accelerated with proper home care. In rare cases, laryngitis is caused by a throat infection that is so severe that it requires medical attention.
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Part 1 of 2: Treating Laryngitis at Home
Step 1. Rest your voice
Most hoarseness results from talking too much, especially if you have to constantly increase the volume (raise your voice up) to make your voice heard. Some situations that can trigger laryngitis in the short term include: noisy restaurants/bars, music concerts, and industrial environments. However, laryngitis that occurs due to overuse can heal faster. Resting your voice for a day or two is usually the first important step to getting your voice back.
- If you're in a noisy place, don't talk too much or move closer to the ear of the person you want to talk to. Don't shout and repeat your words.
- In addition to hoarseness or loss of voice, some other symptoms of laryngitis include: dry throat, sore throat, a tingling sensation in the throat that triggers a dry cough, and accumulation of mucus in the throat.
Step 2. Don't run out of fluids
Getting enough fluids properly keeps the mucous membranes in the throat moist, which helps reduce inflammation and discomfort. With less irritation, you'll cough less and make less effort to clear your throat. Both are factors that can prolong attacks of laryngitis / hoarseness. Do not consume carbonated drinks because they can tickle the throat and trigger a prolonged cough.
- Start by drinking eight glasses (236 ml) of water a day to meet your fluid needs and keep the mucous membranes in your throat/larynx moist. Milk-based drinks can make mucus thick. Avoid sugary drinks because they can increase mucus production.
- Try using hot (not too hot) water topped with honey and lemon. Honey can relieve pain or irritation in the throat and make water taste better. Lemon can help clear mucus from the throat and treat infections - lemon juice is a mild antiseptic.
Step 3. Gargle with an antiseptic solution
A throat infection can also turn into laryngitis. The most common are viral infections, although fungal and bacterial (Candida) infections can also trigger hoarseness. If you suspect that your laryngitis is caused by an infection, rinse your mouth with an antiseptic solution that can kill various microorganisms. Half a teaspoon of salt mixed with a glass of warm water can be effective against bacteria and some other microbes. Gargle for at least one minute every hour until the irritation/inflammation in your throat is gone and your voice is back to normal.
- Other symptoms that could indicate that your laryngitis is caused by an infection include: mild to moderate fever, malaise (fatigue), and swollen glands or lymph nodes in or near the neck.
- Another antiseptic that can be mixed with water and used for gargling is vinegar. Make a solution by mixing one part vinegar with one part water.
Step 4. Kulum lozenge
In addition to drinking lots of water, sucking on a lozenge that has been mixed with medication can also help keep the mucous membranes in the throat moist because lozenges stimulate saliva production. In addition, lozenges that have been given additional medication (can be purchased at pharmacies) usually contain ingredients that can numb or reduce sore throats, making it easier for you to drink fluids and swallow food. Don't suck on candy because the sugar or sweetener can trigger your body to produce more mucus in your throat, forcing you to expel it more often.
- Choose a lozenge that contains zinc, eucalyptus, honey, and/or lemon for a soothing effect on the lining of the throat. Zinc is also a mild antiseptic.
- Ginger is also a great ingredient for treating sore throats. Add chopped pickles or dried ginger to moisten the throat and soothe the inflamed mucous membrane in the larynx.
- Garlic also has antiseptic properties although it can cause bad breath. Chew and swallow raw garlic and try to use more garlic in your cooking.
Step 5. Avoid things that irritate the throat
While you are resting your voice and gargling with an antiseptic, be careful not to inhale or ingest anything that can irritate your throat. Smoking, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, consuming carbonated beverages, consuming sweetened dairy products (such as milkshakes) and inhaling dust and fumes from household cleaners can irritate the throat and make laryngitis worse.
- One of the early symptoms of throat cancer (caused by smoking or drinking alcohol) is a chronic hoarse voice. Therefore, if your hoarseness does not go away for more than a few weeks even after you have rested your voice and rinsed your mouth, consult a doctor.
- In addition to excessive use of the voice, as well as infection and irritation, some other causes of laryngitis include: allergic reactions, chronic acid reflux, enlarged thyroid gland, chronic sinusitis, and the growth of benign tumors (polyps) in the vocal cords.
Part 2 of 2: Getting Medical Treatment
Step 1. Talk to your doctor about antibiotics
Go to the doctor if your laryngitis cannot be relieved using the home remedies described above. Severe sore throat, swollen mucous membranes accompanied by a white layer of pus, fever, and malaise (feeling unwell and lethargic) are signs of infection. However, antibiotics can only treat infections of bacterial origin, so your doctor may examine your throat to determine if the infection is bacterial, fungal, or viral.
- If the cause is bacteria (a common cause of laryngitis is strep throat), your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic that should be finished within two weeks, such as Erythromycin or Amoxicillin. Follow the doctor's instructions carefully when taking antibiotics. In particular, make sure you finish all the antibiotics you are given, even if you feel better. This will ensure that you completely eradicate any low levels of bacteria that remain in your body once you feel better. These bacteria can be resistant to antibiotics and are very difficult to treat later in life.
- If you are a smoker and have had laryngitis for more than a few weeks, your doctor may refer you to an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) doctor, who can use a laryngoscope (a small tube with a tiny camera attached to get a better view of the back of your throat).).
Step 2. Try corticosteroids
If you have severe laryngitis that is not caused by bacteria and cannot be treated with home remedies, ask your doctor about the advantages and disadvantages of short-term corticosteroid use such as prednisone, prednisolone or dexamethasone. Steroids are powerful drugs and treat inflammation quickly, which can reduce swelling, pain, and other symptoms in the throat. This medication is usually used as an emergency treatment for people performing on stage (singers, politicians, actors) who have to use their voices.
- The downside is that steroid medications tend to reduce immune system function, weaken tissues, and result in fluid retention. Therefore, these drugs are usually only prescribed for a short period of time.
- Corticosteroid drugs are produced in the form of pills, injections, inhalers and oral sprays. This drug is very effective in treating attacks of laryngitis.
Step 3. Treat the underlying condition
As explained above, laryngitis is caused by various diseases that affect the throat. For example, acid reflux disease or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux) often triggers laryngitis because stomach acid that flows up into the esophagus irritates and burns the throat and larynx. Therefore, treating GERD using antacids and proton pump drugs will eventually treat laryngitis as well. The same method should also be used in other conditions that trigger laryngitis, such as an enlarged thyroid gland, allergies, bronchitis, chronic sinusitis, benign vocal cord growths, and throat cancer.
- Chronic laryngitis (hoarseness) caused by smoking for a long time can heal on its own if the sufferer stops smoking, although it can take months or even years for the vocal cords to become healthy again.
- If your child's laryngitis is caused by croup (a viral infection that causes inflammation and swelling in the respiratory tract), go to the doctor immediately for proper treatment. Croup narrows the airways, which makes it difficult for sufferers to breathe and causes a cough that is similar to barking. Although rare, this condition can be life-threatening.
Tips
- If your laryngitis is accompanied by a sore throat and cough, try taking over-the-counter cough syrup twice a day for a few days. Relieves coughing can reduce pressure on your vocal cords and throat.
- Contrary to popular belief, whispering does not rest the vocal cords. It's best not to talk while you're recovering from laryngitis. If you have to speak, use a soft voice instead of a whisper, as this is less irritating to the throat.
- Avoid dry places. Your throat needs moisture, so you should avoid dry places and try using a humidifier in your bedroom at night.
