Laryngitis

Laryngitis is inflammation of the vocal cords located in the larynx or voice box. The larynx is the voice box that allows us to speak, shout, whisper, and sing. The larynx consists of a cartilage skeleton that houses the vocal cords, which are covered by a mucus lining. Muscles inside the larynx adjust the position, shape, and tension of the vocal cords, allowing the voice to make different sounds like whispering, singing, and shouting. Any change in the airflow (which is generated by the lungs exhaling air) across the vocal cords will affect the voice and the quality of the sound.

The larynx is located at the junction of the mouth and trachea (where air enters the lungs). There is a flap-like covering called the epiglottis, whose job is to prevent food and saliva from entering the larynx during swallowing.

Laryngitis is an inflammation of the voice box and vocal cords, causing a person to lose their voice and become hoarse. The quality of the voice becomes gravelly-sounding and sometimes too quiet or soft to hear. Because there is inflammation, throat pain is often an associated symptom.

Picture of the larynx and trachea

There are a number of different causes of acute and chronic laryngitis.

Causes of acute laryngitis

• Acute laryngitis is most commonly caused by a viral infection that inflames the vocal cords. It also may be caused by voice overuse with excess talking, singing, or shouting.

Causes of chronic laryngitis

Laryngitis is considered chronic when symptoms last more than three weeks, and it may be caused by:

• Prolonged alcohol use
• Smoking
• Constant exposure to secondhand smoke
• Exposure to polluted air
• Excess coughing
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may cause reflux laryngitis and chronic cough. Sometimes, people are aware of the presence of the acid and experience waterbrash, a sour taste in their mouth. Repeat spills of acid onto the vocal cords will cause chemical irritation and result in inflammation and swelling of the cords, which hinders appropriate vibration and generation of sound. This reflux may cause a persistent cough.
• Chronic irritation of the vocal cords also may cause polyps or nodules to form on the vocal cords, which may affect the ability of the vocal cords to vibrate, causing chronic hoarseness.
• Repetitive use of inhalers.

Hoarseness not caused by laryngitis

• Stroke may cause vocal cord muscle paralysis and lead to a weak, hoarse voice and swallowing problems.
• Damage to the muscles or to the nerves that control them may lead to hoarseness. These nerves may be damaged if there has been trauma to the neck or if surgery has been performed and the nerves inadvertently irritated or severed.
• Tumors in the neck and chest may compress the nerves and cause them to function poorly.
• Thyroid inflammation and enlargement can also cause irritation of nerves that supply the vocal cord muscles.

Other causes of hoarseness and laryngitis

Not all individuals who have lost their voice have an infection. Not all hoarseness is due to a primary inflammation of the vocal cords.

Diphtheria and pertussis may cause laryngitis-like symptoms, but because most people in the United States have been immunized against these infections, these are very uncommon causes. However, with primary immunization decreasing and people failing to keep their immunizations up to date, there have been some outbreaks reported.

• Hoarseness, loss of voice, and throat pain are the primary symptoms of laryngitis in an adult.
• In infants and young children, laryngitis often occurs along with inflammation of the trachea and bronchial tubes. This is known as croup. Because these structures have yet to fully develop, the inflammation may make it harder for air to pass through the upper airways, leading to the classic "seal-like" barky cough called stridor that is associated with croup.

If the cause of laryngitis is infectious, affected individuals will have symptoms of a viral infection:

• Upper respiratory tract infection or cold
• Dry cough
• Sore throat
• Fever
• Swollen lymph nodes (lymph glands) in the neck
• Pain with swallowing
• A feeling of fullness in the throat or neck
• Runny nose
• Loss of voice

In infants and children with croup, breathing becomes more difficult. As the child tries to inhale through a swollen and narrow larynx, the cartilage may collapse, just like when attempting to breathe through a straw. As we age, the cartilage becomes stiffer and is able to withstand deeply indrawn breaths, but in children, the cartilage is weaker, and with each inspiration, the child may need to work hard to inhale. The maturing of laryngeal cartilage and widening of airways usually occur by age 6 or 7.

In infants and children with croup, breathing may become more difficult. As the child inhales through a swollen and narrow larynx, the tissues surrounding the upper airway may collapse, just like when attempting to breathe through a straw. This leads to the classic "seal-like" barky cough associated with croup.

Coup is a viral infection of the upper airways. Symptoms may include:

• Croup
• A hoarse, barky cough
• Fever
• Some measure of respiratory distress where the infant or child works harder to breathe to draw air in through the inflamed voice box area
• Symptoms that are more severe at night

Other symptoms of laryngitis

When the cause of laryngitis is not infectious, cough may be a significant symptom along with the hoarseness. There also can be a fullness felt in the throat. The patient also may complain of difficulty swallowing and have shortness of breath. Rarely, the patient can cough up blood-tinged saliva if the inflammation causes minor bleeding.

Laryngitis is only contagious if it is caused by an infection. Laryngitis, upper respiratory infections, and colds are commonly contagious viral infections spread by aerosol droplets.

Disease transmission can be minimized or prevented by covering the nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing, and proper hygiene habits (wash your hands often, don't share food utensils, and wipe down door handles).

Laryngitis is self-limiting and should last for only a few days, and symptoms should resolve within 7 days but can linger up to two weeks. If symptoms persist longer than three weeks, this is considered chronic laryngitis, and causes other than a viral infection need to be explored. Croup is often described as a disease of the nighttime because visits to the emergency department peak after midnight with sick infants and children.

The health care professional often can make the diagnosis of laryngitis in the doctor's office with little testing required. The history of upper respiratory tract infection associated with loss of voice is reinforced by the patient answering questions in a hoarse voice. The examination is often brief and limited to the ears, nose, and throat, looking for other potential causes of the cold-like symptoms. If the throat is red and there is a concern about a streptococcal throat infection (strep throat) a throat swab for a rapid strep test may be ordered.

If the hoarse voice becomes chronic, the health care professional may want to take a more detailed history, trying to learn why the larynx has remained inflamed for such a long time.

The following questions may be asked:

• Diet, use of alcohol, aspirin, ibuprofen, and smoking, all of which may cause gastroesophageal reflux disease. Alcohol and smoking can irritate the vocal cords.
• Work and hobbies may reveal evidence of repeated chemical inhalation and exposure to air pollution.
• Repeated use of asthma inhalers may cause chronic inflammation of the vocal cords.
• Any signs or symptoms that suggest the potential of thyroid disease, stroke, or cancers of the head and neck will be explored.

Most cases of laryngitis need no testing to confirm the diagnosis. In those patients with chronic laryngitis, the necessity for blood tests, X-rays, and other diagnostic tests will depend upon the patient presentation and the potential concerns that the health care professional has regarding the cause of the hoarseness.

Laryngoscopy is the most common test performed to look directly at the vocal cords and evaluate their function. This procedure uses a thin tube containing a lighted fiber optic camera that is inserted through the nose into the back of the throat. The health care practitioner performing the procedure can see whether the vocal cords are inflamed, if there are any polyps or nodules growing on them, and if the vocal cords move appropriately with breathing and speaking. This test is often performed by an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist), but many other physicians and specialists are trained to perform direct laryngoscopy. Indirect laryngoscopy may be attempted using a mirror placed in the back of the throat to visualize the vocal cords.

Laryngitis is most often first evaluated by a primary care provider, including internists, pediatricians, and family medicine specialists. Since most often the illness is self-limited, no further laryngitis treatment is usually required. When laryngitis persists, otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat [ENT] specialist), gastroenterologists, or emergency department doctors may be consulted.

As with any other structure in the body that becomes inflamed, rest is the key to recovery. For laryngitis, this means resting the voice and limiting the amount of talking. If talking is required, the person should speak in a regular voice and avoid whispering, regardless of how it sounds. Whispering requires the vocal cords to be stretched tightly and requires more work by the surrounding muscles, and this delays recovery time.

• The treatment for viral laryngitis is supportive, and the person should:
  • Stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids
  • Breathe humidified air
  • Take acetaminophen (Tylenol and others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Aleve, and others) for pain control
• Dexamethasone as a single dose given orally (Decadron, DexPak) or by intramuscular injection (Adrenocot, CPC-Cort-D, Decadron Phosphate, Decaject-10, Solurex) may be used to treat croup. Other laryngitis medications may include:
  • Antibiotics, if bacterial infection is present
  • Antifungals, if a fungal infection is present
  • Pain relievers

Patience is required to allow time for the vocal cords to rest and recover.

The treatment of chronic laryngitis will be determined by the cause of the inflammation or loss of function; however, avoiding alcohol and not smoking will help relieve symptoms in the meantime.

It is reasonable not to seek medical care for most cases of laryngitis. Home treatment begins with resting the voice and keeping well hydrated. Symptoms may be controlled by exposure to humidified air. Often, the bathroom is the best place to create a highly humidified area.

• Turn on the hot water in the shower until there is plenty of steam.
• Make certain that all the hot water is drained from the tub or shower to prevent the risk of scalding burns.
• Spend 15-20 minutes breathing the warm moist air to help with symptoms.

Tylenol and/or ibuprofen may be helpful in decreasing the amount of pain.

Some laryngitis self-care measures that can help treat the condition without medical intervention include:

• Resting your voice
• Staying hydrated
• Using a humidifier to keep the air moist
• A cold-water vaporizer also may be used to help with humidity. Avoid hot water vaporizers because of the risk of scalding burns.
• Gargling with warm salt water
• Sucking on throat lozenges to keep your throat moist
• Avoiding substances that trigger laryngitis, such as smoking, secondhand smoke, alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods
• Eating a healthy diet, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, to improve your immunity

If the cause of laryngitis is vocal cord paralysis, the swallowing mechanism may also be affected, and food particles may enter the larynx and lungs, leading to coughing. This process can also lead to aspiration pneumonia and its accompanying symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath) when the food is aspirated deep into the lungs and causes irritation and inflammation of lung tissue.

Repeated episodes of gastroesophageal reflux may cause small amounts of acid to get past the inflamed larynx and enter the lung, causing recurrent pneumonia or bronchitis.

Prior to the advent of Haemophilus influenzae immunization, epiglottitis due to H. flu was always considered as a possible alternative diagnosis for children with croup. This was a life-threatening medical emergency because the epiglottis could massively swell, blocking air from entering the larynx and lungs. X-rays of the neck were taken to visualize the epiglottis and look for swelling. The diagnosis was often confirmed in the operating room where the otolaryngologist and anesthesiologist would use laryngoscopy to look at the epiglottis and vocal cords and decide whether to insert a breathing tube in the child's airway to prevent the airway from swelling shut. Fortunately, because of immunization, this disease is rarely seen.

• Does honey help laryngitis? Honey helps with the symptoms of laryngitis, such as pain and discomfort, and can soothe the throat. However, it does not cure laryngitis.
• How long is a person contagious with laryngitis? A person with laryngitis may be contagious depending on the cause. For viral laryngitis, the person may be contagious for 7 to 10 days. For bacterial laryngitis, the person may be contagious until starting antibiotics. Fungal laryngitis is rarely contagious.
• Does SARS-CoV2 (Covid-19) omicron variant cause laryngitis? The SARS-Co-V2 (Covid-19) virus, along with the omicron variant, can laryngitis. The omicron variant has been reported to cause some cases of severe laryngitis, leading to further complications such as upper airway stenosis.
• What autoimmune disease causes chronic laryngitis? Autoimmune diseases that cause chronic laryngitis include:
  • Wegner's granulomatosis
  • Amyloidosis
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Relapsing polychondritis
• When are you no longer contagious with laryngitis? Laryngitis itself is not contagious, but the symptoms may spread and make it infectious. Once the symptoms resolve, laryngitis will no longer be contagious.