Is laryngitis contagious?

Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
Updated on April 20, 2025
00:00
00:00

Laryngitis is an acute inflammatory disease of the throat, especially the vocal cords. Clinically, it is mainly caused by bacterial infection or long-term excessive misuse of the voice. For bacterial infections or mixed infections of bacteria and viruses, this type of laryngitis has certain contagiousness, but the contagiousness is relatively weak and it is not a severe or highly contagious disease. Secondly, laryngitis caused by long-term misuse of the voice mainly results from mechanical damage and is non-contagious. Moreover, this type of laryngitis tends to be more chronic. In summary, acute laryngitis caused by bacterial and viral infections has certain contagiousness, but the contagiousness is very weak.

Trending Health Topics

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 25sec home-news-image

What to eat for laryngitis

Laryngitis is an emergency in otolaryngology, commonly seen in infants and toddlers. Generally, it is caused by acute inflammation that irritates the pharyngeal mucosa, mainly the vocal cords, leading to congestion and edema of the pharyngeal mucosa. Patients may exhibit sudden high fever, with a body temperature above 38°C, severe sore throat, hoarse voice, bark-like cough, and in severe cases, it may cause breathing difficulties or even lead to suffocation and death. Examination with an electronic laryngoscope can reveal severe edema of the bilateral vocal cords and incomplete closure of the glottis. In treatment, laryngitis initially requires symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment. A routine blood test should be conducted; if there is an increase in white blood cells and neutrophils, a bacterial infection should be considered, and oral administration of cephalosporins or penicillin antibiotics is effective. If lymphocytes are elevated, the patient should receive symptomatic antiviral treatment, which is also effective. Additionally, nebulized inhalation should be used to help reduce local congestion and edema. A bland diet should be maintained, avoiding spicy and irritating foods. Recovery is typically within about a week. (Please take medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 11sec home-news-image

Throat inflammation: injections or medication?

For laryngitis, it is best to undergo infusion therapy. Acute laryngitis is an otolaryngology emergency, commonly occurring in infants and toddlers because their pharyngeal mucosa is relatively loose. Once infected by bacteria or viruses, it can cause sudden high fever with temperatures above 38℃ (100.4°F), as well as hoarseness and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, it may lead to asphyxiation or even death. Examination with an electronic laryngoscope can reveal significant hyperemia and edema in the pharyngeal mucosa, especially severe around the bilateral vocal cord arytenoid areas, leading to incomplete glottis closure. Under such circumstances, it is best to use antibiotics, such as cephalosporin antibiotics, and the patient should undergo infusion therapy. Additionally, it is advisable to use corticosteroids to reduce local mucosal congestion and edema. A light diet should be maintained during treatment, closely monitoring the patient’s breathing. If breathing difficulties arise, a tracheotomy may be necessary.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
41sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of laryngitis?

Laryngitis is a relatively common clinical disease with a variety of symptoms and individual differences. Common symptoms include pain in the throat area. If the pain is severe and accompanied by noticeable swelling, it may affect swallowing and breathing, and could lead to swallowing obstruction and breathing difficulties. Another common symptom is hoarseness, especially seen in acute laryngitis, as it can cause congestion and swelling of the vocal cords, which easily leads to hoarseness. Generally, when symptoms of laryngitis appear, it is advisable to visit an otolaryngology department promptly for a laryngoscopy to assess the extent of the inflammatory response.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 10sec home-news-image

Do you have a cough from laryngitis?

Laryngitis can cause severe coughing. Laryngitis is caused by acute inflammation that affects the throat, primarily the vocal cords, leading to sudden high fevers over 38.5°C. Patients experience severe throat pain, hoarseness, irritating coughs, bark-like coughs, and in severe cases, it can lead to difficulty breathing, choking, and even death. Generally, laryngitis is more common in infants and young children and can spread through the respiratory or digestive tract. During an examination with a laryngoscope, congested and swollen bilateral vocal cords are apparent, with good mobility but incomplete closure. In terms of treatment, symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment is necessary for laryngitis. This can include oral or intravenous antibiotics, such as cephalosporins, which are effective. Additionally, corticosteroids are used to reduce local congestion and swelling. A light diet is recommended, and gradual improvement is usually seen within a week. (The use of medication should be carried out under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
52sec home-news-image

Difference between the symptoms of laryngitis and throat cancer

There is a fundamental difference between laryngitis and laryngeal cancer. Laryngitis is an inflammatory infectious disease, mainly caused by bacterial infection or chronic inflammatory conditions, clinically characterized primarily by hoarseness. Treatment is mainly through medication, such as oral medications or nebulized inhalation therapy. Laryngeal cancer is a malignant tumorous disease, primarily squamous cell carcinoma. Clinically, in addition to hoarseness, we can also observe tumorous lumps and swelling of the cervical lymph nodes, which are manifestations of malignant tumors. The treatment of laryngeal cancer primarily involves comprehensive treatment led by surgery, including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and some biological treatments, etc. Therefore, there is a fundamental difference between the two.