Ear, Nose & Throat ENT Disorders What Is Laryngitis? By Kristin Hayes, RN Kristin Hayes, RN Facebook Twitter Kristin Hayes, RN, is a registered nurse specializing in ear, nose, and throat disorders for both adults and children. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 04, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Benjamin F. Asher, MD Medically reviewed by Benjamin F. Asher, MD Facebook LinkedIn Benjamin F. Asher, MD, FACS, is board-certified in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. For 30 years, he has worked at Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound and the Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinic. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Laryngitis is inflammation of your larynx—also called your voice box—from irritation, overuse, or infection. About two inches in length and located at the top of your windpipe (airway), your larynx contains your vocal cords and plays a role when you talk, breathe, or swallow. Composed of two folds of mucous membrane wrapped around cartilage and muscle, your vocal cords normally form sounds by smoothly opening and closing as well as vibrating. Inflammation or irritation from laryngitis causes your vocal cords to swell and distorts the sounds that air carries over them, making your voice sound hoarse. If the swelling is severe, you may not be able to make your voice heard at all, a condition called aphonia, but most people describe this as "losing" their voice. Most often due to vocal strain or a viral infection, laryngitis isn’t usually serious. However, hoarseness that doesn’t go away, even after treatment, could be a symptom of a more serious disease or disorder and should be reported to your healthcare provider. Illustration by JR Bee, Verywell Laryngitis Symptoms There are several common symptoms of laryngitis aside from hoarseness, including a lowered voice or loss of your voice, and feeling a constant need to clear your throat. If an infection is the cause of your laryngitis, symptoms may include fever, malaise (generalized feeling of discomfort or illness), and swollen lymph nodes. Causes Laryngitis that lasts less than a few weeks is called acute laryngitis and is often associated with an upper respiratory infection caused by a viral infection. Laryngitis from bacterial infection is rare. Long-term or chronic laryngitis is laryngitis lasting longer than 3 weeks. If you don't have an idea of what has caused your laryngitis or if it lasts longer than a few weeks you should see a healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause, which may include: Allergic reaction Smoking Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) Frequent vomiting (emesis) Inhaling toxins Ingesting caustic materials Chronic sinusitis with postnasal drip Chronic alcohol use Cancer of the larynx Tuberculosis Diagnosis Laryngitis usually gets better on its own. If you need to see your practitioner about your symptoms, he or she will most likely base the diagnosis on your specific set of symptoms and your medical history. A physical examination may reveal things like swollen glands. If necessary, your healthcare provider may also look at your larynx with a special mirror or an endoscope. You’re more likely to undergo endoscopy if you’ve had laryngitis longer than a few weeks. Your practitioner will want to view your larynx directly to check for other possible causes of your symptoms, such as a tumor or tuberculosis infection. Treatment One of the best ways to treat laryngitis, and certainly the simplest, is not talking at all. It can be frustrating to not speak, but it really is the best means of treating your laryngitis. If necessary, you can communicate by writing. Contrary to popular belief, whispering does not rest your voice. In fact, it can actually agitate your vocal cords and make your hoarseness worse. Of course, if you have chronic laryngitis, identifying the underlying cause of your symptoms is the first step in identifying the best treatment for you. Treatment may include: Using a cough suppressant Avoiding cigarettes and other forms of smoking Using a cool mist humidifier Taking medications to control GERD Using decongestants Taking over-the-counter (OTC) pain-relieving medications Antibiotics As you may know, antibiotics are only effective against infections caused by bacteria. Since almost all infections with laryngitis are caused by viruses, it makes sense that your healthcare provider wouldn’t prescribe an antibiotic for you, at least at first. If you don’t start feeling better within a reasonable time, however, you may have one of the rare cases where bacteria are the cause, and taking an antibiotic may be indicated. There’s another reason why practitioners are more cautious about prescribing antibiotics these days: overuse of antibiotics has contributed to the evolution of so-called “superbugs," which refers to bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics. Healthcare professionals are hoping to slow that trend by giving patients antibiotics only when they are clearly required. A Word From Verywell Laryngitis is a condition that usually goes away on its own. However, if you find that your symptoms are persisting, contact your healthcare provider. If you have laryngitis, avoid doing anything that could worsen the condition such as speaking and smoking. How to Use Natural Remedies for Laryngitis Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 5 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Sasaki CT. Laryngitis. Merck Manual: Professional Version. Gupta G, Mahajan K. Acute Laryngitis. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing. Wood JM, Athanasiadis T, Allen J. Laryngitis. BMJ. 2014;349:g5827. doi:10.1136/bmj.g5827 Stein DJ, Noordzij JP. Incidence of chronic laryngitis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2013;122(12):771-4. doi:10.1177/000348941312201207 Reveiz L, Cardona AF. Antibiotics for acute laryngitis in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;2015(5):CD004783. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004783.pub5 Additional Reading U.S. National Library of Medicine-MedlinePlus. Laryngitis.