All of us, at some point in our lives, experience discomfort in the throat. It’s not always just inflammation and it can worsen with increased irritation and even hoarseness. This problem is known as laryngitis.

What is laryngitis?

Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx, where the vocal cords are located. This inflammation causes irritation and swelling, which leads to hoarseness. It is usually caused by an infection or damage to the larynx.

Acute Laryngitis

Acute laryngitis refers to infections that last a short time and are caused by viruses similar to those that cause colds or the flu, and are the most common type of infection associated with laryngitis. Less common types of infection include:

  • Bacterial infections – such as Diphtheria
  • Fungal infections – such as CandidaAlbicans (candidiasis)

People with weakened immune systems, due to conditions such as HIV or as a result of chemotherapy or steroid medication, are at higher risk for laryngitis caused by fungi, or in medical terms: fungal laryngitis.

Chronic Laryngitis

Laryngitis is also often caused by improper use of the voice, such as:

  • Speaking loudly in noisy environments;
  • Excessive use of the mobile phone;
  • Using an inappropriate tone of voice (too high or too low) when speaking;
  • Singing or lecturing for long periods.

Forcing the voice can make the vocal cords vibrate faster than they should. This excessive vibration can damage the surface of your vocal cords, causing them to become inflamed. Laryngitis caused by damage to the larynx is known as chronic laryngitis. Less common causes of chronic laryngitis include:

  • Direct blow to the larynx – such as a punch to the throat, an accident or a sports injury;
  • Prolonged coughing;
  • Frequent throat clearing.

Common causes:

  • Smoking – excessive exposure to cigarette smoke causes irritation in the larynx.
  • Excessive alcohol consumption – alcohol is extremely irritating and can dry and irritate the throat.
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) – reflux of gastric juice into the throat can cause a variety of symptoms in the esophagus as well as the larynx. Hoarseness (chronic or intermittent), difficulty swallowing, a lump sensation in the throat, or sore throat are common symptoms caused by irritation from stomach acid in the throat.
  • Chronic sinusitis – This is inflammation of the mucous membranes and sinuses that can cause changes in the airways.
  • Allergic reactions to substances such as smoke, chemicals, dust, and toxins.

Other causes for chronic hoarseness:

  • Polyps or cysts on the vocal cords
  • Paralysis of the vocal cords (for example, the use of a tracheal tube during surgery)
  • Cancer
  • Vocal cord hemorrhage

Allergic Laryngitis

Allergic laryngitis is contact with substances that cause allergies. It should be treated with antihistamines.

Is Laryngitis Contagious?

This is not an easy question to answer. Whether or not laryngitis is contagious depends on the type of laryngitis. Not all forms of the disease are the same.

  • Viral laryngitis

Whether viral laryngitis is contagious or not is uncertain. In many cases, viral laryngitis is associated with a cold or flu. The symptoms include sore throat, cough, fatigue, body aches, low fever, and all the other symptoms that tend to accompany the common cold and flu. Although viruses are usually inhaled from droplets in the air produced by a carrier, viral laryngitis itself is not contagious. The cold and flu that cause laryngitis, however, are very contagious. Therefore, it is safe to cover your mouth whenever you cough or sneeze to prevent spreading germs to those around you. If you have a case of viral laryngitis, you do not need to be treated with antibiotics. Just rest and drink plenty of fluids. Steaming or nebulizing with saline can also relieve some of the symptoms.

  • Bacterial laryngitis

If the case is bacterial laryngitis, the answer to “Is laryngitis contagious?” is definitely yes. Bacterial laryngitis occurs when the larynx becomes infected with bacteria. You can tell if laryngitis is bacterial if the illness is accompanied by fever, severe sore throat, difficulty swallowing and yellowish nasal mucus, as well as other upper respiratory tract infection symptoms such as headache, facial pressure, ear pain, blocked ears or swollen glands in the neck. If you have any of these symptoms, stay home, take antibiotics prescribed by your doctor and try to avoid talking. Always cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing and wash your hands regularly to prevent spreading the illness.

  • Fungal Laryngitis

This type of laryngitis is considered contagious since it is possible to transmit the disease from person to person. However, transmission requires direct physical contact. Fungal laryngitis is caused by fungi. The most common of these organisms is called CandidaAlbicans, which usually lives in our body but, under favorable conditions, can overgrow and cause problems. Fungi usually do not cause infection, but if immunity is low, they can penetrate the body’s natural blood and tissue barriers, which can lead to infection of the larynx and other organs. Fungal laryngitis is characterized by symptoms that develop slowly and combine those of viral and bacterial laryngitis – hoarseness, cough, sore throat and ear pain. Generally, fungal laryngitis can be diagnosed visually, as the typical fungal lesions will be visible in the mouth and throat. Fungal laryngitis can be treated with antifungal medications, such as nystatin.

Symptoms of Laryngitis

First, it’s important to know that any inflammation of the respiratory tract does not occur suddenly; everything happens gradually. The infection spreads from the upper part of the nose, and soon afterwards the first symptoms appear, which are:

  • Irritation and itching in the throat
  • Cough
  • Dry throat
  • Pain
  • Hoarseness

Diagnosis of Laryngitis

Normally, the doctor can identify laryngitis through a physical examination, which will likely include feeling the patient’s neck to find sensitive areas or lumps. The throat, mouth, and nose will also be evaluated. If there are voice problems and hoarseness with no obvious cause and that persist for more than two weeks, the doctor may refer you to a specialist (otolaryngologist). The appearance of your vocal cords and the sound of your voice will help the doctor determine whether the laryngitis will go away on its own or you need treatment. In addition, these tests can be performed by the ENT specialist:

  • Video laryngoscopy – the larynx is visualized through a camera and it is possible to detect changes such as nodules, polyps, or even early-stage tumors
  • Biopsy – tissue samples are taken with the help of the laryngoscope

Treatment of Laryngitis

In most cases, laryngitis improves within a week without treatment. Just rest your voice as much as possible and follow some guidelines:

  • Do not smoke and avoid places where there is passive smoking
  • Avoid staying in dry or dusty environments
  • Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration – especially water (avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks), even if swallowing is painful
  • With a doctor’s advice, take an analgesic such as paracetamol or ibuprofen – which can relieve any pain, headaches and fever associated with the illness. Note: Children under 16 should not take aspirin.
  • Gargle with warm salty water (not recommended for children) or throat lozenges, which can help relieve pain
  • Warm the neck with a hot compress
  • Use humidifiers – which can soothe the airways and help keep them clear
  • Avoid talking when possible and speak softly when necessary, but do not whisper as this can strain your vocal cords and worsen laryngitis

Voice therapy is a type of speech and language therapy that studies voice use and how this can contribute to chronic laryngeal inflammation. It is important to avoid self-medication, because in cases of bacterial infection where treatment is not carried out properly, the patient’s condition can worsen, leading to rheumatic fever and kidney problems.

Laryngitis in pregnant women

Laryngitis during pregnancy should be a cause for concern if the cause is viral. That’s because the infection can cross the placenta and infect the baby. This can often lead to congenital malformations in the early stages of pregnancy. In the second and third trimesters it can lead to premature birth. Therefore, it is important to diagnose as quickly as possible to start treatment. The use of medication during pregnancy is not recommended, as it can harm the baby’s development. Therefore, in the treatment of laryngitis, pregnant women need to rest, maintain a balanced diet, and take care of their voice, that is, speak as little as possible. Fever is an indicator that the body is fighting infections, so there is no reason to panic because of it. Only use fever-reducing medication if the fever is very high. Drinking fluids is a great help in fighting the disease. Therefore, drinking plenty of water is essential for recovery. Teas and juices are also welcome. For faster recovery it is necessary to give the body a “shock” dose of vitamins and minerals (they should be taken every day).

Laryngitis in children

Laryngitis in children, unlike adults, starts suddenly. Often even without a rise in temperature, a child becomes lethargic, refuses food and water, yet shows changes in the voice, wheezing and cough. Laryngitis in children develops through viruses or bacteria that reach the mucosal tissues of the larynx and trachea, causing inflammation. As a result, the inflammation causes buildup of mucus, swelling of the mucosa and narrowing of the larynx, which contributes to difficulty breathing. It develops an acute inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, accompanied by nasal congestion and discharge, low fever, and cough. The child’s general condition during the day is quite satisfactory, but at night, difficulty breathing occurs, which causes a strong cough.

Stridulous laryngitis

Stridulous laryngitis is inflammation of the larynx also caused by viruses and, in most cases, happens in young children. It usually scares, due to its symptoms, but it is generally not dangerous. It gets its name from the hoarseness and dry cough, also known as “barking cough”, which gets worse at night and can cause vomiting, mild or moderate blockage of the airways, and difficulty breathing. Stridulous laryngitis usually occurs up to age 3 and lasts 3 to 7 days. It stops occurring in older children because the trachea grows and becomes wider. The treatment is the same as for laryngitis in adults and children, but something that helps a lot is keeping a humidifier beside the bed. If you don’t have a humidifier, placing a wet towel near the child or a bowl of water in the corner of the room also works.  Do steam inhalation at bath time. Just give a hot bath with the door closed so that a large amount of steam forms for the child to breathe.

Natural Treatments for Laryngitis

It is important to remember that you should consult a doctor before starting alternative treatments. Several effective methods can complement medical treatment such as:

  • Gargling with beet juice
  • Wrapping the neck with warm, mashed cooked potato. Use a cloth to wrap the neck
  • Warm teas sweetened with honey (not recommended for children under 1 year)
  • Herbal steam inhalation (chamomile, mint, eucalyptus, etc.).

How to Prevent

To prevent laryngitis, the main advice is to prevent upper respiratory tract infections, such as flu, sinusitis, and colds.

  • Do not smoke and avoid places where there is passive smoking
  • Avoid staying in dry or dusty environments
  • Drink plenty of fluids
  • Keep the house well-ventilated
  • Maintain good hygiene habits
  • Avoid places with crowds or little air circulation

All this information is a great guide for your health! Also see: Child Cough – Learn More About This Symptom Photos: mashko-apchi, BruceBlaus, Taken, Ryan Boren