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How is laryngitis treated?
Treating laryngitis involves treating the underlying cause and/or removing the irritant from the environment. (For more information, see Understanding the Disorder.)
- Hydration is an important component of laryngitis treatment. In most cases of
laryngitis, either the mucous secretions are excessively thick or the
lubrication of the larynx is decreased.
- Drinking water helps to maintain the thin character of the mucosal lubrication.
- Steam or mist humidifiers can help to lubricate the vocal folds.
- Avoiding
exposure to drying agents such as caffeine or dehydrating medications
can also help to preserve the lubrication of the larynx. (For more information, see Laryngitis Sicca.)
- Limiting voice use allows the vocal fold tissue to heal without the added trauma and
stress caused by trying to phonate with swollen vocal folds. Voice rest
can help to accelerate the healing process.
- Surgery is rarely indicted for laryngitis.
 Key Information
Multifactorial Voice Disorders
In
some cases, the laryngitis masks or leads to an incomplete diagnosis.
Thus, despite appropriate treatment for laryngitis, some patients fail
to improve due to the failure to recognize other laryngeal problems.
Common problems that can be missed when laryngitis is present include
vocal fold paresis, muscle tension dysphonia, and functional dysphonia.
Need for Identification of Cause for Proper Treatment
When
the primary cause of the laryngitis is not directly treated, and only
the inflammation and the irritation of the larynx are addressed with
anti-inflammatory medications such as steroids, the laryngitis will
continue. A definitive cause for the laryngitis must be determined
after careful review of the patient's history, symptoms, and laryngeal
examination to ensure proper treatment.
A Perspective on Anti-inflammatory Medication
The optimal treatment for laryngitis should first involve the
identification and subsequent removal or minimization of the irritating
source of the laryngitis. Then, and only then, should the inflammation
and irritation of the larynx be treated. In other words, patients
should generally not be treated with steroids without a specific
identified cause for the laryngitis.
 Red Flag
Use of Steroids Controversial
Use
of inhaled steroids for laryngitis is highly controversial. According
to current best practices, use of inhaled steroids for the treatment of
laryngeal irritation and inflammation is rare.
Inhaled
steroids are designed to treat asthma and other pulmonary conditions;
in fact, most patients who have asthma describe throat irritation from
the inhaled steroid medication itself or the associated propellant of
the medication.
Patients should consult with their physician as to possible complications of steroid medication.
What will happen if laryngitis is left untreated?
If left untreated, laryngitis is thought by some physicians to lead
to the development of hyperfunctional voice disorders such as muscle
tension dysphonia, which may contribute to the formation of nodules, polyps, cysts, scarring, hyperkeratosis, and Reinke's edema. (For more information, see Vocal Fold Scarring, Reinke's Edema, and Vocal Fold Nodules, Polyps, Cysts, and Reactive Lesions.) |
