From the Research
For laryngitis, a short course of oral corticosteroids such as prednisone 40-60 mg daily for 5-7 days is typically recommended in severe cases or when significant voice impairment persists, as supported by the most recent and highest quality study available 1.
Key Considerations
- The use of steroids in laryngitis is generally reserved for moderate to severe cases that do not respond to conservative measures like voice rest and hydration.
- Steroids work by reducing inflammation in the vocal cords, which helps decrease swelling and irritation.
- Patients who rely on their voice professionally or those with significant airway compromise may particularly benefit from steroid treatment.
- However, steroids should be used cautiously in patients with diabetes, hypertension, or immunocompromised states, as even short courses can affect these conditions.
Treatment Options
- Oral corticosteroids like prednisone 40-60 mg daily for 5-7 days can be used.
- Alternatively, dexamethasone 10 mg as a single dose or 4-8 mg daily for 1-2 days may be used.
- Inhalation steroid treatment may also be effective in reducing edema, as shown in a study comparing inhaled versus oral steroids for acute dysphonia 1.
Important Notes
- Patients should take the medication with food to minimize gastrointestinal side effects.
- The full prescribed course should be completed to ensure optimal treatment outcomes.
- The most recent study available 1 compared the effect of inhaled steroids with oral steroids and found that both treatments significantly improved symptoms, but inhalation treatment was more effective in reducing edema.