Introduction
Laryngeal inflammation (laryngitis) is usually caused by an infection with viruses or bacteria. A distinction is made between acute and chronic laryngitis, which are treated with different drugs. While in the acute disease the focus is on fighting the infection and the accompanying symptoms, a chronic inflammation is treated with expectorant drugs. In the case of a viral infection, the inflammation cannot be treated with medication; here, drug therapy is symptomatic. In the case of a bacterial infection, which is much rarer than a viral disease, the doctor prescribes antibiotics.
Which drug groups are used?
Which group of drugs is used for laryngitis depends on the cause of the disease. Acute inflammation of the larynx is usually viral and usually heals by itself within a few days. The patient can take medication that improves the accompanying symptoms of the infection, e.g. nasal spray or cough syrup.
Anti-inflammatory drugs from the class of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be taken to treat sore throats and difficulty swallowing. These include acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin®), ibuprofen and diclofenac as the most important representatives. In addition to their pain-relieving effect, these preparations are also anti-inflammatory.
Paracetamol is another analgesic drug from the group of non-opioid analgesics. All these painkillers are available without prescription in any pharmacy, but the maximum permissible daily dose and the duration of use should not be exceeded. If the symptoms persist for several days and do not improve despite taking the medication, a doctor must be consulted. Rarely is the laryngitis caused by bacteria, in such cases the doctor must prescribe the patient a suitable antibiotic. So-called proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are used in chronic laryngitis, which has developed due to the permanent reflux of stomach acid into the oesophagus.
Which antibiotics are used?
If the laryngitis has been caused by bacteria or if there is a secondary bacterial infection, the doctor can take a smear of the pharyngeal mucosa and thus determine the pathogen. He then prescribes an antibiotic that is effective against the bacterial infection and leads to rapid relief of the symptoms. Usually the antibiotics are taken orally in the form of tablets, in some cases the doctor may inject the medication.
However, due to their side effects and the spread of antibiotic resistance, these drugs should not be prescribed as a first measure, but only in special cases. Which antibiotic is administered for laryngitis depends on the type of pathogen. Common pathogens of laryngitis are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Staphylococcus aureus.
Accordingly, antibiotics such as amoxicillin, cephalosporins, macrolides and ketolids are used. Amoxicillin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic from the group of beta-lactam antibiotics and is effective against a broad spectrum of pathogens. The group of cephalosporins includes cefaclor, cefuroxime axetil and loracarbef, while an important member of the macrolides is azithromycin, which can also be administered to treat laryngitis. The duration of antibiotic use in laryngitis is usually between three and five days.
