Laryngitis is when your larynx (voice box) is irritated or inflamed. Your voice becomes hoarse, husky, and weak. Air pollution or spending an evening in a smoky room can irritate the larynx and cause laryngitis. Infections and allergies too, can inflame the larynx. Sometimes laryngitis is painless, but you may get a sore throat, fever, dry cough, a tickling sensation in the back of the throat, or have trouble swallowing. Smoking, drinking alcohol, breathing cold air, and continuing to use already distressed vocal cords can make the situation worse.
Is it very hard for you to breathe or swallow or
are you coughing up blood? |
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| Do you have a high fever or are you coughing up
mucus that is yellow or green or bloody-colored? |
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| Do you have hard, swollen lymph glands in your neck
or do you feel like you have a "lump" in your throat? |
 |
| Has the hoarseness lasted more than a week in a
child or more than a month in an adult? |
|
Do you have two or more of these problems? Bothered by the cold more
than usual Dry hair or skin Gaining weight for no reason Feeling very tired for no reason |
|
Don't talk if you don't need to. Use a
notepad and pencil to write notes instead. If you must speak, do so softly, but don't
whisper.
Use a "cool-mist" humidifier in
your bedroom.
Drink lots of warm drinks such as tea.
Gargle every few hours with warm salt water
(1/4 teaspoon of salt in 1/2 cup of water).
Take a hot shower or steam bath.
Don't smoke. Stay away from places with
smoke.
Suck on cough drops, throat lozenges, or
hard candy. (Do not give to children under age 5.)
Take an over-the-counter medicine for pain
and/or inflammation. {Note: See Pain relievers in Your Home Pharmacy.}
HEALTH AT HOME - Your Complete Guide to Symptoms, Solutions, and Self-Care © 1999 by Don R. Powell. American Institute for Preventive Medicine.
Date updated 04/20/99