When to Seek Medical Care

When to call the doctor

• Sometimes laryngitis may be more serious. Several symptoms should cause you to see a doctor:

• High fever with a sore throat
  
  
• Coughing up yellow or green phlegm
  
  
• Coughing up blood
  
  
• Unable to take liquids
  
  
• A history of throat or breathing problems
  
  
• Symptoms that last for 2-3 weeks despite resting your voice
  
  

• Children are different than adults because they are more likely to become infected with certain microbes.
  
  

• If a child just has a hoarse voice, with or without other symptoms of a virus such as low-grade fever (less than 100.5°F) runny nose, muscle aches, cough, or nasal congestion, then the treatment is the same as for an adult.
  
  

• If the child has a fever, a sore throat, won't eat or drink, or has a decreased number of wet diapers (indicating less than adequate drinking), however, you should take the child to see a doctor.
  
  

• Some situations can be life threatening, and you must not delay seeing a doctor. Go to a hospital's emergency department or call 911 if you experience any of the following.
  
  
  • Any trouble breathing
    
    
  • Feel as if your throat is closing
    
    
  • Are unable to swallow
    
    
  • Are drooling
    
    
  • Must sit upright to breathe
    
    
• If a child is drooling (more than normal), has a whistling noise in his or her throat when breathing, or has any trouble breathing at all, then the child needs to go to the hospital.