Inflammation of the larynx is known as laryngitis . Doctors distinguish between acute and chronic laryngitis.
Acute laryngitis
This laryngeal disease is usually a viral inflammation of the vocal folds.
The clinical symptoms are hoarseness with an irritating cough and a feeling of dryness.
Treatment involves warm, moist inhalations and, in severe cases, sprays. Those affected should also protect their voice and refrain from smoking.
In the case of a bacterial (super) infection, antibiotic treatment should also be given. Cefuroxime is an option here, or clindamycin in the case of allergies.
Chronic laryngitis
Chronic inflammation of the larynx is caused by excessively dry air (air conditioning) or noxious substances (dust, smoking). This makes the vocal folds in particular sensitive and prone to inflammation.
For mouth breathers (impaired nasal breathing), the air humidity is also insufficient. This can lead to chronic laryngitis.

The anatomy of the larynx © bilderzwerg | AdobeStock
The symptoms are similar to those of acute laryngitis:
- Globus sensation,
- hoarseness,
- cough and
- a compulsion to clear the throat.
Therapeutic is
- Avoidance of noxious substances,
- restoration of nasal breathing in the long term if necessary and
- short-term voice protection with inhalation therapy
is indicated.
Other forms of laryngitis
Pseudocroup (laryngitis subglottica acuta): Pseudocroup is also primarily a viral disease. If a bacterial infection is also present, doctors speak of a superinfection.
In this disease, which occurs in childhood, the mucous membrane below the glottis swells. The child suffers from a barking cough and constricted airways, which are noticeable through clearly audible breathing noises.
Decongestant inhalations and, if necessary, antibiotic therapy with cefuroxime, or clindamycin if the child is allergic, are important. Intubation may be necessary in an emergency.
Tuberculous laryngitis: An infection with M. tuberculosis can lead to monochorditis in the area of the larynx. It is characterized by granulomatous changes (granular tissue formations).
The symptoms correspond to the other chronic diseases of the larynx listed. The diagnosis is made by means of a biopsy (tissue sample). Therapeutic treatment is tuberculostatic (triple therapy).
Posterior laryngitis: This form develops due to reflux disease. Gastric acid repeatedly enters the esophagus. The gastric acid damages the mucous membranes of the larynx, particularly in the arytenoid cartilage and the interaryngeal region.
Symptoms of redness and swelling are hoarseness and an urge to cough.
The therapy consists of reducing/avoiding reflux by
- a change in diet and
- medication with anti-reflux therapy (proton pump inhibitors).
Laryngeal papillomatosis often occurs in childhood. It is triggered by human papillomaviruses (HPV 6/11/16/18). The result is papillomatosis of the vocal folds. Papillomatoses are wart growths caused by viruses.
In children they often occur in several places on the body, in adults often only in one place.
The papillomas are removed therapeutically using a laser, which requires an inpatient stay of two days. In addition, active substances can be injected to activate the immune system so that it fights the pathogens itself.
The main problem with this disease is its tendency to recur and spread downwards.
This laryngeal disease is usually a congenital pathological softening of the larynx. If the structures are too soft, there is an aspiration effect when breathing in, so that not enough air can pass through. Patients with laryngomalacia make typical breathing noises when exhaling. These symptoms may be congenital.
In the first few years, the symptoms often improve on their own. Surgery is therefore rarely necessary. In addition to laser treatment, a temporary tracheotomy (tracheotomy) may be considered.
Laryngocele are hernia-like protrusions in the area of the larynx. Depending on the location, a distinction is made between internal and external laryngocele.
Common symptoms include
- a globus sensation,
- difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) or
- breathing difficulties (dyspnoea)
occur. Treatment is surgical, usually endoscopic using a laser. Open surgery from the outside is rarely necessary.
Laryngeal cancer is the most common cancer of the throat. Men are affected around ten times more frequently than women. The most common causes of malignant tumors of the larynx are smoking and alcohol abuse.
Laryngeal cancer is a squamous cell carcinoma, i.e. a form of skin cancer. A distinction is made between four forms depending on the location:
- Vocal folds - glottic carcinoma: The tumor is located in the area of the vocal folds and the back wall of the larynx.
- Below the vocal folds - subglottic laryngeal carcinoma: The tumor is located below the vocal folds.
- Epiglottis - Supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma: The tumor is located in the area of the epiglottis.
- Entire larynx - transglottic laryngeal carcinoma: The tumor extends over the entire larynx.
Treatment generally involves surgical removal of the tumor (tumor resection). Both laser endoscopic and open surgical procedures are available for this.
In the case of larger tumors, radiotherapy should be carried out postoperatively. If the tumor is inoperable or if there are severe concomitant diseases, combined radiochemotherapy is also available. Antibody therapy may also be used if necessary.
Swallowed fish bones and other foreign bodies rarely cause problems if they become trapped in the larynx. However, if complications do occur, the swallowed object must be removed.
Blunt trauma to the larynx, caused by a car accident or motorcycle helmet, for example, is the most common cause. Sharp trauma, such as from a knife, is rare.
Laryngeal fractures and even tracheal ruptures can lead to displacement or bleeding, resulting in
can occur.
It is essential to primarily secure the airway through surgical reconstruction. The intubation procedure during general anesthesia can lead to dislocation (injury) of one or both arytenoid cartilages.
So-called intubation granulomas can form during prolonged intubation. Subglottic tracheal stenosis or tracheomalacia in the area of the cuff often develops in patients who have been intubated for a long time. A temporary tracheostomy (tracheotomy) must be performed in good time to prevent these symptoms.
Reinke's edema is an accumulation of fluid in the so-called Reinke's space of the vocal folds. It is caused by vocal overload and/or usually smoking, including passive smoking. The result is a hoarse voice, occasionally also an urge to cough.
As a therapeutic approach, the patient should first improve their vocal hygiene and avoid noxious substances. Vocal hygiene means adapting your lifestyle to preserve and protect your voice.
If this does not lead to an improvement, phonosurgical ablation can be performed. The ablation is performed under general anesthesia as part of a microlaryngoscopy.
Possible complications include permanent hoarseness and renewed edema formation after the operation.