Laryngitis

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Throat anatomy

Because most common laryngitis is caused by a virus, treatment with antibiotics may not help. Your health care provider will make this decision.

Voice rest helps by reducing the inflammation of the vocal cords. A humidifier may soothe the scratchy feeling that comes with laryngitis. Decongestants and pain killers may relieve symptoms of an upper respiratory infection, if present.

Full recovery is expected in laryngitis that is not caused by a serious condition.

Rarely, severe respiratory distress may develop, which will require medical attention.

Call your health care provider if there is difficulty in breathing, swallowing, or if drooling is present in a small child who is not teething.

Call your health care provider if hoarseness is present in a child less than 3 months old.

Call your health care provider if hoarseness has lasted for more than 1 week in a child or 2 weeks in an adult.

Review Date: 08/08/2005
Reviewed By: Kevin Fung, M.D., FRCS(C), Department of Otolaryngology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.