Monday 01 October 2007, 12:00AM
PEARLS 29, October 2007, written by Brian R
McAvoy
Clinical question
Should I use antibiotics to treat acute laryngitis in my adult
patients?
Bottom line
Penicillin V and erythromycin appear to have no benefit
in treating acute laryngitis in adults. Erythromycin reduced voice
disturbance at 1 week (NNT* 4.5) and cough at 2 weeks when measured
subjectively but there were no objective differences in outcomes
between the intervention and control groups. * NNT = number needed
to treat to benefit one individual.
Caveat
The modest subjective benefits probably are outweighed by
costs, adverse effects and negative consequences on antibiotic
resistance patterns.
Context
Acute laryngitis commonly causes hoarseness, fever, sore
throat, postnasal discharge and difficulty swallowing. These
symptoms are usually self-limiting, and influenced by environmental
conditions.
Cochrane Systematic Review
Reveiz L, Cardona AF, Ospina EG. Antibiotics for acute
laryngitis in adults. Cochrane Reviews, 2007, Issue 1. Article No:
CD004783. DOI: 10:1002/14651858.CD004783.pub3. Note: This review
contains only 2 trials involving 206 participants.