Laryngitis can be a frustrating and even debilitating issue and can have a variety of causes. Learn more about symptoms, treatment options, and when to visit urgent care for laryngitis.
What Is Laryngitis?
Your larynx—often referred to as a voice box—is located in your throat at the top of your trachea, the airway that leads to your lungs. Within your larynx are your vocal cords, two folds of tissue that vibrate together to help produce speech.
Laryngitis is simply the inflammation of your larynx. Because it contains your vocal cords, irritation, and inflammation in this area often result in hoarseness or even the temporary loss of your voice.
What Causes Laryngitis?
Laryngitis can be classified as acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term).
Acute causes of laryngitis include:
- Viruses.
- Bacterial infections.
- Yeast infections.
- Vocal strain from prolonged shouting, singing, or speaking.
Chronic causes include:
- Ongoing voice overuse.
- Chronic sinus infections.
- GERD (acid reflux).
- Alcohol overuse.
- Smoking.
Risk factors for laryngitis include:
- Upper or lower respiratory infections, including sinusitis, a cold, or bronchitis.
- Smoke or irritant exposure, such as cigarette smoke, pollutants, chemicals, alcohol overuse, or stomach acid.
- Voice overuse from prolonged speaking, singing, or shouting.
Is Laryngitis Contagious?
If laryngitis is the result of a viral or bacterial infection, it is contagious in the sense that these germs can be passed on to someone else. If your laryngitis has another cause, such as voice overuse or exposure to irritants, it would not be contagious.
Laryngitis: Symptoms to Watch For
Signs and symptoms of laryngitis can include:
- Hoarseness.
- Loss of your voice.
- Sore throat.
- Rawness or tickling in your throat.
- Dry cough.
- Dry throat.
When To Go to Urgent Care for Laryngitis
Many cases of acute laryngitis can be managed at home by resting your voice and drinking plenty of fluids.
If your symptoms persist for longer than two weeks or are bothersome, you should seek help at urgent care.
Get medical attention at an emergency room instead if you experience:
- Difficulty breathing.
- Coughing up blood.
- High-pitched noises when breathing.
- Drooling.
- Difficulty swallowing.
Potential Laryngitis Complications
If you overuse your voice during acute laryngitis, there can be a possibility of vocal damage.
If your laryngitis is caused by an infection, in some cases, the infection may spread to other parts of your respiratory system.
Diagnosing Laryngitis
Diagnosing laryngitis will largely involve discussing your symptoms with a healthcare provider and likely an examination. Alamo City Urgent Care is an excellent choice if you think you may have laryngitis, as our urgent care providers can see you quickly and conveniently to help you reach a diagnosis.
In some cases of chronic laryngitis, you may be referred to an ear, nose, and throat specialist who may conduct a laryngoscopy to visualize and examine your vocal cords.
Laryngitis Treatment Options
Resting your voice and drinking plenty of hydrating fluids are key parts of treating laryngitis. Other measures you can take include:
- Using a humidifier.
- Avoiding alcohol.
A provider will often focus on the underlying cause of your laryngitis. If it’s caused by smoking, tobacco cessation is a wise idea for this and many other reasons.
If heartburn is causing your laryngitis, an urgent care provider may focus on treating this condition with diet changes or medications. If a bacterial infection underlies your laryngitis, an antibiotic is typically prescribed to treat the infection.
How Long Does Laryngitis Last?
This is a difficult question to answer since different types of laryngitis may take a shorter or longer time to resolve, depending on the cause.
In general, acute laryngitis will often get better in a week or less.
Urgent Care for Laryngitis at Alamo City Urgent Care
At Alamo City Urgent Care, our caring and experienced providers offer prompt care for your laryngitis, along with many other ear, nose, and throat concerns.
Offering fast access to high-quality care close to home, Alamo City Urgent Care provides treatment for a broad range of conditions. Visit one of our convenient San Antonio locations today or contact us to learn more about our services.
