Laryngitis is a condition that comes on quickly, has a variety of causes and can be both uncomfortable and inconvenient. While it usually sounds worse than it is, is laryngitis contagious? The answer isn’t as straightforward as it seems.
What is laryngitis?
Laryngitis is the inflammation of the vocal cords, the tiny structures in your throat that help produce sound. When they become swollen or irritated, your voice can become hoarse, raspy or disappear altogether.
Laryngitis can cause other symptoms, including:
- Dry cough
- Sore throat
- Difficulty speaking
- Difficulty breathing in severe cases.
Two main types of laryngitis exist:
- Acute laryngitis: Short-term and often caused by viral infections or allergies
- Chronic laryngitis: Can result from long-term irritants like acid reflux, smoking or overusing your voice.
Fungal infections or bacterial laryngitis rarely cause cases of laryngitis, but they do occur.
If you have laryngitis in addition to symptoms of viral or bacterial conditions, make an appointment with your primary care provider. If you want to be seen quicker or the office is closed, you can go to an urgent care center near you.
When is laryngitis contagious?
Is laryngitis contagious? Laryngitis itself is not, but the condition that causes it may be. Some conditions that cause laryngitis are contagious. Viral or bacterial infections – such as the common cold, flu, strep throat or sinus infections – can be contagious and spread to others.
Viral and bacterial laryngitis can spread through droplets when you cough, sneeze and talk. That means if you share drinks, forget to wash your hands or spend a lot of time in close quarters with someone, you might pass it along.
However, if your laryngitis is caused by overusing your voice, stomach acid irritating your vocal cords (as with acid reflux), allergies or fungal laryngitis, it is not contagious. While you might have to endure a few days of whispering and sipping tea, you won’t be responsible for making your family or coworkers sick.
How to prevent laryngitis
While it’s not always possible to avoid laryngitis, there are steps you can take to lower your risk.
- Practice good hand hygiene to reduce your chances of catching viral infections that can lead to viral laryngitis.
- Avoid straining your voice by using a microphone when speaking to large crowds and taking breaks if you talk or sing often.
- Stay hydrated and use a humidifier to keep your throat moist.
- Avoid smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke, which can irritate the vocal cords.
- If you suffer from acid reflux, managing it properly can help prevent stomach acid from causing irritation.
By taking these precautions, you can keep your vocal cords healthy and lower your risk of laryngitis.
How do you treat laryngitis?
Most cases of laryngitis will clear up on their own. However, there are some things you can do to speed up recovery and make yourself more comfortable:
- Rest your voice: Whispering can strain your vocal cords more, so it’s best to avoid talking as much as possible.
- Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of fluids helps soothe the throat and keep it from drying out.
- Use a humidifier: Moist air can help ease throat irritation and loosen mucus.
- Avoid irritants: Smoke, pollution, alcohol and caffeine can all make symptoms worse.
- Try over-the-counter remedies: Lozenges, honey and throat sprays can provide temporary relief.
Laryngitis caused by a bacterial infection, such as strep throat, can often be treated with antibiotics. Both your primary care provider and an urgent care provider can prescribe antibiotics.
If your laryngitis symptoms last longer than two weeks or you have difficulty breathing, you should see a doctor. Chronic laryngitis could indicate something more serious, such as vocal cord nodules or acid reflux damage.
How we can help
Laryngitis has a variety of causes. If you’ve lost your voice and plan to be around other people, it’s worth asking yourself, “is laryngitis contagious?” If you have symptoms of laryngitis and you’re unsure whether you are contagious, make an appointment with your primary care provider or go to your nearest urgent care.
If you’re struggling with persistent laryngitis or experiencing severe symptoms, your primary care provider may refer you to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist. They can check your condition, determine the cause of your laryngitis and recommend treatment options tailored to your needs.
Learn about the primary care services as well as the urgent care and ear, nose and throat services we offer at Mercy Health.
