Uvulitis normally goes away on its own or with therapy in 1 to 2 days. The skin around the throat may itch or burn during an episode of uvulitis. The size of your uvula doesn't really matter. It's normal for it to be slightly enlarged due to swelling from inflammation of the vocal cords or other laryngeal disorders. The condition can also be caused by a viral infection, eating too much spicy food, or drinking alcohol. But a large and swollen uvula is usually a sign of irritation or trauma to the organ. These include smoking, eating spicy foods, and using harsh chemicals such as red wine towards the end of a leather belt. If you're wondering how long it takes for a swollen uvula to go down, well, that depends on the cause of the problem. If it's a simple case of laryngitis, then your doctor should be able to tell you within 24 hours if your vocal cords are inflamed. A large and painful uvula may take longer than two days to go down. However, if your uvula is severely swollen and irritated, it might take up to six weeks before the organ returns to its normal size.