Laryngitis usually gets better within a week, without treatment. To help your vocal cords heal, it is important not to smoke and to avoid smoky environments.
Other ways to treat laryngitis include:
- Drink plenty of fluids, particularly water, even though swallowing may be painful. This will ensure that you don't get dehydrated.
- Painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, may ease any associated headaches and fever. Children under the age of 16 shouldn't take aspirin.
- Gargling with a mouthwash of warm, salty water and sucking lozenges will not reach the larynx, but may help soothe a sore throat.
- Various gargling solutions are available over-the-counter (OTC) from pharmacies. Gargle for three to four minutes, but don't swallow the solution.
- Menthol inhalation and air humidifiers may help to clear your airways.
- Ideally, avoid speaking entirely until your symptoms have passed, but this is not usually practical in everyday life. When you do speak, keep your voice soft, but try not to whisper. Whispering can actually damage the larynx and may lead to your symptoms lasting longer.
- Most cases of infectious laryngitis are caused by viruses, so antibiotics aren't routinely prescribed. But if tests show that you have a bacterial infection, you may be given antibiotics.
Chronic laryngitis
For prolonged laryngitis, the recommended treatment will depend on its underlying cause.
Stop smoking if this is causing your symptoms.
Your GP will be able to refer you to a NHS Stop Smoking Service, which gives dedicated help and advice about giving up smoking. You can also call the NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 022 4332. The specially trained helpline staff can offer you free expert advice and encouragement.
If you're committed to giving up smoking but don't want to be referred to a stop-smoking service, your GP should be able to prescribe medical treatment to help with any withdrawal symptoms that you may have after quitting.
See our pages on stopping smoking and treatment for quitting smoking for more information.
If excessive alcohol consumption is irritating your larynx, moderate your drinking.
The NHS recommends that:
- Men shouldn't regularly drink more than three to four units a day.
- Women shouldn't regularly drink more than two to three units a day.
Find out how many units are in your favourite alcoholic drink, track your drinking over time and get tips on cutting down.
If your chronic laryngitis is due to gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), you may require additional treatment to control your symptoms.
One option for treating GORD is to use proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs). PPIs work by reducing the amount of acid that is produced by your stomach.
Read more about treatments for GORD.
If your symptoms are due to an allergic reaction, identifying and avoiding the substance you're allergic to is one option. However, if this isn't possible, antihistamines (a type of anti-allergy medication) can be used to help control an allergic response.
Read more about treatments for allergies.
If your chronic laryngitis symptoms are due to misusing or overusing your voice, you may benefit from vocal therapy.
Vocal therapy is a type of speech and language therapy that:
- studies how you use your voice
- looks at how this may contribute to your symptoms
- provides you with information and advice about what changes you can make to prevent further damage to your larynx
