Different treatments are chosen for paediatric acute laryngitis depending on the pathogen causing the disease.
If it is caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotics and hormones are commonly used. Antibiotics are mostly broad-spectrum antibiotics, such as penicillins, macrolides and cephalosporins. Hormones can relieve laryngeal obstruction and reduce asphyxia. The inhaled hormone budesonide and the systemic hormones prednisone, dexamethasone and methylprednisolone are commonly used.
In addition, certain doses of sedatives, such as promethazine, can be used for crying, irritable children to sedate and reduce laryngeal oedema.
If the laryngitis is caused by a viral infection, antibiotics are not needed.