Laryngitis Treatment

Medically Reviewed by Nayana Ambardekar, MD on August 14, 2022
2 min read

If symptoms of laryngitis last for only a few days or occur immediately after you’ve been using your voice more than normal, then the main treatment is to rest your voice as much as possible.

If you have symptoms that suggest a virus, such as low-grade fever, cough, nasal congestion, runny nose, muscle aches, or feeling rundown, then be sure to drink lots of fluids and take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin).

Many people find inhaling steam, such as from a hot bath or shower, or a cool mist humidifier makes them feel better.

In all cases you should avoid smoking and being where others are smoking.

After a careful exam your doctor will decide on a course of treatment. Most of the time, your doctor will recommend home care and may occasionally prescribe a steroid medication. If the doctor is concerned about a bacterial infection causing the laryngitis, then they will prescribe a course of antibiotics.

Sometimes, the doctor may choose to observe you in the office or the emergency department for a short time to be sure you are not getting worse quickly. If you have any signs of respiratory distress or that your airway might swell and close, seen more commonly in children than in adults, then you will be admitted to the hospital. These rare and severe events may make it necessary to place a breathing tube into your throat. The procedure is called intubation. You will then be placed on a machine called a ventilator to breathe for you. In this situation, you will receive intravenous antibiotics and probably steroids. These instances are mainly seen in children and can be due to severe croup or epiglottitis.