The time until you are allowed to speak again | Duration of an inflammation of the vocal cords

The time until you are allowed to speak again

The protection of the voice is particularly important in acute laryngitis (inflammation of the kelhkopfen). It is very important that those affected do not clear their throat. Whispering should also be avoided, as this puts even more mechanical strain on the already strained vocal folds.

In any case, the voice should be rested or spared for the first week. In some cases the voice should be spared even longer. It is important to keep your voice calm to avoid late effects. .

The duration until the symptoms are cured

The duration of the symptoms can also vary and, just like vocal cord inflammation itself, depends on the protection of the voice and the therapy. Thus, the symptoms can usually disappear after days up to two weeks, but can also take longer or even months. Especially if the voice is not spared or the vocal chords are exposed to noxious substances such as nicotine during the inflammation, longer disturbances of voice formation such as hoarseness can occur. Sometimes a therapy with a speech therapist must be considered, whereby exercises can help to restore normal voice function.

The duration of a sick leave

Sick leave is particularly important for patients who work in professions where people talk a lot (e.g. teachers). Therefore, the sick leave should last at least two weeks, so that the vocal chords can recover completely. In professions where speaking is not absolutely necessary, patients can go back to work earlier. This, however, only if the general condition allows it, because in addition to hoarseness, the infection can cause fever, sore throat, cold, chesty cough and other signs of an infection of the upper or lower respiratory tract.

The length of time until you are no longer contagious

The risk of infection varies depending on which pathogen caused the infection and thus the inflammation of the vocal chords. In most cases, the infected person is already contagious before the first symptoms appear and, depending on the pathogen, can remain contagious for several days after the symptoms have subsided. If the immune system is weakened, it can even take several weeks for virus particles to be excreted and thus for others to be infected. .