The condition is self – limiting and most patients will feel better within two weeks.
Referral for urgent management is indicated in acute airway compromise or presumed epiglottitis.
Management options include:
- vocal hygiene
- care of voice is beneficial in relieving symptoms in all patients with vocal difficulties
- voice rest
- periods of voice rest may vary between 48 hours to one week. Recommendation is to rest the voice until patients find it comfortable to hum
- whispering also should be avoided (whispering strains the voice more than normal speech)
- modest speech can be resumed after voice rest
- hydration
- especially important in patients who snore or mouth-breathe at night
- chewing sugar-free gum, or increase in total fluid intake (250 mL per waking hour) is beneficial
- humidification
- by using a humidifier
- by inhalation of steam
- by avoiding air conditioning and dry heat
- limiting caffeine intake
- caffeine exacerbates both snoring and pharyngolaryngeal irritation.
- less than two standard espressos a day is recommended
- various sodas and “smart drinks” which contains caffeine should also be avoided
- stop any predisposing factor - for example, stop smoking or alcohol
- antibiotics
- there is limited evidence about benefits of antibiotics in the treatment of acute laryngitis
- a Cochrane review of two trials involving penicillin V and erythromycin compared with placebo found no significant difference in clinical outcome
- should be considered in the presence of - signs and symptoms such as persistent fever (>48 hours), purulent sputum, membrane formation, or associated distant disease (1)
Small children with subglottic oedema should be admitted to hospital for possible respiratory support because of the risk of airway obstruction.
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