Laryngitis is inflammation of the larynx (the upper airway duct). The most common causes are a viral infection or overuse of the voice, but it can also appear as a result of a bacterial infection or other source of irritation. The vocal cords within the larynx swell, making the voice hoarse or completely preventing you from speaking. Most of these inflammations clear up on their own within a week and by following proper home care it is possible to speed up the healing process; in rare cases, however, laryngitis is caused by a severe throat infection that requires medical attention.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Treating Laryngitis at Home
Step 1. Rest your voice
Most cases of hoarseness are the result of excessive talking, especially if you have had to raise (strain) your voice to make yourself heard - noisy restaurants / bars, concerts and industrial settings can trigger a short-lived bout of laryngitis. However, this type of inflammation resolves fairly quickly; for this reason, in most cases the first important thing to do is to rest the voice for one or two days, in order to recover it.
- If you are in a particularly noisy environment, try to speak less or get closer to the ear of the person you are conversing with. avoid shouting and having to repeat what you are saying.
- In addition to hoarseness or loss of voice, other symptoms of hoarseness include dry, sore throat, a tickling sensation in the throat that causes dry coughing and mucus buildup.
Step 2. Stay hydrated
Good hydration helps moisten the mucous membranes of the throat, reducing inflammation and discomfort; Thanks to less irritation, you also tend to cough and clear your throat less frequently - both factors that typically prolong laryngitis / hoarseness attacks. Don't drink fizzy water, as it can make you tickle more and cause you to cough.
- Start drinking 8 8-ounce glasses of water a day to rehydrate and keep your throat / larynx membranes moist. beware of dairy-based drinks, as they can make the mucus thicker. You should also avoid sugary drinks, as they can increase mucus production.
- To ease nasal and throat congestion, consider heating up some water (without letting it get hot) and add a little honey and lemon. Honey soothes a sore or sore throat and makes the drink tastier; lemon helps to expel mucus and fights infections - its juice is a mild antiseptic.
Step 3. Gargle with an antiseptic solution
Throat infections can also lead to laryngitis; viral ones are the most common, although bacterial and fungal ones (Candida) can also trigger hoarseness. If you are concerned that the problem is caused by an infection, gargling with an antiseptic mixture can kill a variety of microorganisms; half a teaspoon of salt dissolved in a glass of warm water is effective against bacteria and other microbes. Gargle for at least one minute every hour until the irritation / inflammation in your throat subsides and you fully recover your voice.
- Other symptoms that may make you think it is an infection include: mild or moderate fever, general malaise (fatigue), swollen lymph nodes or glands in the neck or surrounding area.
- As an alternative to salt, you can use other antiseptic compounds, such as vinegar, to create the gargle solution. prepare a mixture of water and vinegar in equal parts.
Step 4. Suck on some balsamic candies
In addition to drinking a lot of water, you can dissolve balsamic candies in your mouth to moisturize the mucous membranes of the throat and stimulate the production of saliva; Additionally, these medicinal candies (sold in pharmacies) typically contain ingredients that numb the throat, relieve pain, facilitate fluid intake and food ingestion. However, avoid eating regular candy, as sugar and sweeteners can cause more mucus production, triggering the need to clear the throat more frequently.
- Choose tablets that contain zinc, honey, eucalyptus and / or lemon, to obtain greater soothing effects on the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory system; zinc is also a mild antiseptic.
- Ginger is also a great solution to your problem; suck on a small piece of dried or candied ginger to moisturize the throat and soothe inflamed tissues.
- Although bad breath can cause some discomfort, remember that garlic has antiseptic properties; chew a piece of it raw and try to add it to dishes when you cook.
Step 5. Breathe in moist air
Operate a humidifier to keep the air in your home and bedroom humid. If you don't have a humidifier, you can increase the humidity of the air by hanging a wet towel or putting large pots of water on the stove.
Step 6. Avoid whispering
You would strain your voice a lot more than when you speak normally. Rather, inhale deeply and then speak as you exhale, in a relaxed tone.
Step 7. Avoid irritants
While trying not to strain your voice and gargle with antiseptic products, be careful not to breathe or consume any throat irritants. Smoking, an excess of alcoholic beverages or sodas, sugary dairy products (such as smoothies), and inhaling dust and vapors from household cleaners all can irritate the throat and aggravate inflammation.
- One of the first symptoms of throat cancer (caused by smoking or alcoholism) is a chronic hoarse voice; therefore, if your hoarseness lasts more than a few weeks, despite the rest and gargle, you should go to your doctor for an examination.
- In addition to excessive use of the voice, infections and irritation, other causes of laryngitis are: allergic reactions, chronic gastroesophageal reflux, enlarged thyroid gland, chronic sinusitis and benign growths (polyps) on the vocal cords.
Part 2 of 2: Getting Medical Treatment
Step 1. Talk to your doctor regarding antibiotics
If you are unable to relieve laryngitis with the home remedies described so far, you need to make an appointment with your family doctor. A severe sore throat, swollen mucous membranes with streaks of white pus, fever, and general malaise are all symptoms of an infection. However, only bacterial infections can be cured with antibiotics; Your doctor will then do a throat swab to determine if your infection is bacterial, viral, or fungal.
- If the origin is bacterial (strep throat is a fairly common cause of laryngitis), your doctor may prescribe antibiotic treatment for two weeks, for example amoxicillin or erythromycin. Strictly follow the doctor's instructions regarding the dosage and duration of treatment. In particular, be sure to complete the entire course of treatment, even if you start to feel better; in this way, you are sure to completely get rid of even the last remaining bacteria at the beginning of the improvement phase, preventing them from developing resistance to the drug, which in turn would make it extremely difficult to be able to eradicate them in the future.
- If your laryngitis lasts more than a few weeks and you are a smoker, your doctor will likely refer you to an otolaryngologist, who can use a laryngoscope, a small tube with a thin camera, to better see inside your throat.
Step 2. Consider taking corticosteroids
If your laryngitis is particularly severe, it is not caused by bacteria and you are unable to cure it with home remedies, ask your doctor to describe the advantages and disadvantages of a short course of these drugs, such as prednisone, prednisolone or dexamethasone.. Steroid medications are powerful, fast-acting anti-inflammatories that can reduce swelling, pain, and other symptoms involving the throat. However, given the considerable side effects, they are usually reserved only for the most urgent cases of people who have to use their voice for work.
- The disadvantage of steroids is that they tend to reduce the functions of the immune system, weaken tissues and cause water retention; for this reason, they are usually only prescribed for short periods.
- Corticosteroids are available in the form of tablets, injectable liquids, and oral sprays; the latter are particularly effective in fighting laryngitis attacks.
Step 3. Undergo treatments to cure underlying diseases
As previously described, laryngitis can be caused by various diseases affecting the throat. For example, gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) often triggers it, because stomach acids travel up the esophagus, irritating and inflaming the throat and larynx. Therefore, by treating GERD with antacids or proton pump inhibitors, it is also possible to eliminate inflammation in the throat. The same approach should be chosen for other diseases that lead to laryngitis, such as enlarged thyroid gland, allergies, chronic sinusitis, bronchitis, vocal cord polyps and throat cancer.
- Chronic laryngitis (hoarseness) due to a long-standing smoking habit can subside on its own by quitting this habit, although it takes many months or even a few years for the vocal cords to become healthy again.
- If your child suffers from croup-induced laryngitis, you must take him to the pediatrician immediately to get proper treatment. This respiratory disease narrows the airways, causes difficulty in breathing and a cough that resembles barking in dogs; in rare cases, it can even be fatal.
Advice
- If laryngitis is accompanied by severe sore throat and cough, consider taking an over-the-counter syrup twice a day for a few days. by eliminating the cough, you can reduce the stress that the throat and vocal cords are subjected to.
- Contrary to popular belief, whispering does not keep the vocal cords at rest; instead, you should completely avoid speaking while recovering from laryngitis. If you still have to talk, try to use a low tone of voice instead of whispering, as it is less irritating to the throat.
- Avoid dry environments. Your throat needs moisture, so you don't have to go to places with dry air and consider using a humidifier in your room at night.
