What are the potential treatments for laryngitis?

From the Guidelines

Laryngitis treatment primarily focuses on self-care measures and addressing the underlying cause, with the most effective approach being to rest your voice, avoid whispering, and maintain adequate hydration by drinking plenty of fluids, as recommended by the 2018 clinical practice guideline: hoarseness (dysphonia) update 1. The treatment of laryngitis involves several key components, including:

• Resting your voice as much as possible to prevent further strain on the vocal cords
• Avoiding whispering, which can strain the vocal cords more than soft speech
• Maintaining adequate hydration by drinking plenty of fluids to help soothe the vocal cords
• Humidifying the air in your home to reduce dryness and irritation
• Using amplification in large noisy spaces to reduce voice strain, as suggested by the 2018 clinical practice guideline: hoarseness (dysphonia) update 1 For bacterial infections, antibiotics may be prescribed, though most cases are viral and won't respond to antibiotics, as noted in the 2018 clinical practice guideline: hoarseness (dysphonia) update 1. However, the use of antibiotics should be discouraged due to the risk of antibiotic resistance and side effects, and should only be considered in select circumstances, such as in immunosuppressed patients or in cases of bacterial laryngotracheitis, as recommended by the 2018 clinical practice guideline: hoarseness (dysphonia) update 1. Additionally, corticosteroids like prednisone should not be prescribed empirically for dysphonia prior to examination of the larynx, due to the potential for significant and serious side effects, as recommended by the 2018 clinical practice guideline: hoarseness (dysphonia) update 1. For acid reflux-related laryngitis, proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole (20mg daily) or lifestyle changes like avoiding late meals and elevating the head of your bed may be prescribed, as recommended by the 2009 clinical practice guideline: hoarseness (dysphonia) 1. It is essential to seek medical attention if symptoms persist beyond two weeks, if you have difficulty breathing, or if you cough up blood. Some key considerations for treating laryngitis include:
• Treating the underlying cause of the laryngitis, whether it be viral, bacterial, or related to acid reflux
• Avoiding the misuse of antibiotics and corticosteroids
• Focusing on self-care measures, such as resting your voice and maintaining adequate hydration, to help soothe and heal the vocal cords.

From the Research

Potential Treatments for Laryngitis

• The effectiveness of antibiotic therapies in treating acute laryngitis has been assessed in several studies 2, 3, 4, with results indicating that antibiotics may not be beneficial in improving objective symptoms.
• Erythromycin has been found to reduce voice disturbance at one week and cough at two weeks when measured subjectively 2, 3, 4.
• Fusafungine, an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent, may increase the cure rate at day five when used to treat acute laryngitis 3.
• For chronic laryngitis, management strategies may involve addressing underlying causes such as infectious, inflammatory, or autoimmune processes 5.
• Treatment approaches for laryngitis may also include controlling symptoms and reducing inflammation, although the specific treatment plan will depend on the underlying cause and severity of the condition 6.

Considerations for Treatment

• The use of antibiotics in treating laryngitis should be approached with caution, as they may not provide significant benefits and can contribute to antibiotic resistance 2, 3, 4.
• The quality of evidence for antibiotic treatments in laryngitis is often limited by methodological problems and inconsistent results 3.
• Further research is needed to fully understand the effectiveness of different treatment approaches for laryngitis and to inform evidence-based practice 2, 3, 4.