Diagnosis of Laryngitis

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In laryngitis, there is hoarseness, pain, cough and difficulty speaking. Most cases of acute laryngitis can be treated by the patient and there is no need to visit your GP. However, you should see a doctor if:

your symptoms are very severe and last longer than 2-3 weeks,
swollen glands appear in the neck without symptoms of infection, or
swollen glands do not go down within 2-3 weeks after the infection has cleared up.

An ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist may be asked to examine the larynx if the symptoms do not clear up after 2-3 weeks. This may involve direct visual examination of the inside of the larynx with an instrument called a laryngoscope or indirect examination of the airway with a mirror. The larynx may be covered with mucus and be red and swollen and the vocal cords may look thicker or stiffer and rounded.

If nodules (small lumps) are found on the vocal cords, further examination and treatment may be needed.