Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx, or voice box. Inside the larynx are the vocal cords. Swollen, irritated vocal chords cause hoarseness or loss of voice. Laryngitis is usually short-lived, but may be chronic. Cold or flu viruses and overusing your voice cause most cases of laryngitis. Other causes include heavy alcohol use, smoking, GERD, allergies, and rarely, bacteria or fungus. Resting your voice, breathing in humid air, drinking plenty of fluids, and not smoking allows vocal cords to heal. Treatment for chronic laryngitis may include vocal training or surgery.

Symptoms of Laryngitis are

Cough, Loss of voice, Sore throat, Hoarse voice, Muffled voice, Difficulty talking

Treatment

Treatment for laryngitis may include:

• Resting the voice

• Not smoking

• Inhaling humid air

• Drinking plenty of fluids

• Speech or voice training for chronic laryngitis caused by overusing the voice

• Surgery to remove vocal cord nodes

• Antibiotic in the case of a bacterial infection

Self Care

Most people treat laryngitis at home by resting the voice, breathing in humid air, drinking plenty of fluids, not smoking, and avoiding secondhand smoke.

When to See Your Doctor

Laryngitis symptoms include hoarseness and loss of voice. If caused by a cold or flu, other symptoms may occur including cough, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, fever, and sore throat. If symptoms of laryngitis last longer than two weeks, see your doctor.

Diagnosed By

Your doctor can diagnose laryngitis by taking your medical history and doing a physical exam. Other tests for chronic laryngitis may include blood tests, X-rays, or viewing the vocal cords with a lighted scope.