: 108  Stroboscopy may be relatively normal or may reveal asymmetry, aperiodicity, and reduced mucosal wave patterns.Other features of the laryngeal tissues may include
Redness of the laryngeal tissues (acute)
Dilated blood vessels (acute)
Thick, yet dry laryngal tissue (chronic)
Stiff vocal folds
Sticky secretions between the vocal folds and nearby structures (the interarytenoid region)

Referral
Some signs and symptoms indicate the need for early referral. These include

Difficulty swallowing
Vocal stridor
Ear pain
Recent weight loss
History of smoking
Current or recent radiotherapy treatment (in the neck region)
Recent neck surgery or surgery involving endotracheal tubing
Person is a professional voice user (teacher, singer, actor, call center worker, and so on)

Differential diagnosis
Acute epiglottitis: This is more likely in those with stridor, drooling, and painful or trouble swallowing. Spasmodic dysphonia
Reflux laryngitis
Chronic allergic laryngitis
Neoplasm
Croup: This presents with a barking cough, hoarseness of voice, and inspiratory stridor. Treatment
Treatment is often supportive in nature, and depends on the severity and type of laryngitis (acute or chronic). General measures to relieve symptoms of laryngitis include behaviour modification, hydration and humidification.Vocal hygiene (care of the voice) is very important to relieve symptoms of laryngitis. Vocal hygiene involves measures such as: resting the voice, drinking sufficient water, reducing caffeine and alcohol intake, stopping smoking and limiting throat clearing. Acute laryngitis
In general, acute laryngitis treatment involves vocal hygiene, painkillers (analgesics), humidification, and antibiotics. Viral
The suggested treatment for viral laryngitis involves vocal rest, pain medication, and mucolytics for frequent coughing. Home remedies such as tea and honey may also be helpful. Antibiotics are not used for treatment of viral laryngitis.
Bacterial
Antibiotics may be prescribed for bacterial laryngitis, especially when symptoms of upper respiratory infection are present. However, the use of antibiotics is highly debated for acute laryngitis. This relates to issues of effectiveness, side effects, cost, and possibility of antibiotic resistance patterns. Overall, antibiotics do not appear to be very effective in the treatment of acute laryngitis.In severe cases of bacterial laryngitis, such as supraglottitis or epiglottitis, there is a higher risk of the airway becoming blocked. An urgent referral should be made to manage the airway. Treatment may involve humidification, corticosteroids, intravenous antibiotics, and nebulised adrenaline. Fungal
Fungal laryngitis can be treated with oral antifungal tablets and antifungal solutions. These are typically used for up to three weeks and treatment may need to be repeated if the fungal infection returns. Trauma
Laryngitis caused by excessive use or misuse of the voice can be managed though vocal hygiene measures. Chronic laryngitis
Reflux
Laryngopharyngeal reflux treatment primarily involves behavioural management and medication. Behavioural management involves aspects such as

Wearing loose clothing
Eating smaller, more frequent meals
Avoiding certain foods (e.g. caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods)Anti-reflux medications may be prescribed for patients with signs of chronic laryngitis and hoarse voice. If anti-reflux treatment does not result in a decrease of symptoms, other possible causes should be examined. Over-the-counter medications for neutralizing acids (antacids) and acid suppressants (H-2 blockers) may be used. Antacids are often short-acting and may not be sufficient for treatment. Proton pump inhibitors are an effective type of medication.