Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx. It causes hoarse voice or the complete loss of the voice because of irritation to the vocal folds (vocal cords). Dysphonia is the medical term for a vocal disorder, of which laryngitis is one cause.

Laryngitis is categorized as acute if it lasts less than a few days. Otherwise it is categorized as chronic, and may last over 3 weeks. The chronic form occurs mostly in middle age and is much more common in men than women.

Causes[link]

• acid reflux disease
• allergies
• bacterial or fungal infection
• excessive coughing, smoking, or alcohol consumption
• inflammation due to overuse of the vocal cords^{[1][2][3][4][5]}
• use of inhaled corticosteroids for asthma treatment
• viral infection

Symptoms[link]

• Hoarseness or no voice at all
• Dry, sore, burning throat
• Coughing, which can be a symptom of, or a factor in causing laryngitis
• Difficulty swallowing
• Sensation of swelling in the area of the larynx
• Cold or flu-like symptoms (which, like a cough, may also be the causal factor for laryngitis)
• Swollen lymph nodes in the throat, chest, or face
• Fever
• Coughing out blood
• Difficulty breathing (mostly in children)
• Difficulty eating
• Increased production of saliva in mouth

Treatment[link]

In most instances, the symptoms accompanying laryngitis are more directly linked to the causative factor, such as a viral infection, like the common cold. In cases caused by overuse of the voice, symptoms other than vocal impairment may be absent. Laryngitis, hoarseness or breathiness that lasts for more than two weeks may signal a voice disorder and should be followed up with a voice pathologist. This is typically a vocology certified SLP (speech language pathologist) or a laryngologist (voice specialized ENT). Use a humidifier or a vaporizer to create moisture.

In most cases, laryngitis is viral:

• The patient may be instructed to drink lots of fluids, such as when one has a cold.

If laryngitis is due to gastroesophageal reflux:

• The patient may be instructed to take a medication such as Zantac or Prilosec for a period of 4-6 weeks.

If laryngitis is due to a bacterial or fungal infection:

• The patient may be prescribed a course of antibiotics or anti-fungal medication.

If persistent hoarseness or loss of voice (dysphonia) is a result of vocal cord nodules:

• Physicians may recommend a course of treatment that may include a surgical procedure and/or speech therapy.
• Reduction of high-impact stress to the vocal cords caused by loud, frequent, and high-pitched voicing is recommended.^[6]

Treatment Approach:

• In most cases, you can treat laryngitis yourself by resting your voice. Antibiotics are almost never needed because most cases of laryngitis are caused by a virus (not bacteria).

References[link]

http://www.medicinenet.com/laryngitis/page5.htm http://www.emedicinehealth.com/laryngitis/page5_em.htm

External links[link]

• Mayo Clinic
• VoiceInfo.org
• Singing Voice
• National Center for Voice and Speech's official website
• The Voice Academy's official website
• The Voice Foundation's official website
• University of Maryland Medical Center