Laryngitis is an inflammation of the voice box, or larynx, that causes your voice to become raspy or hoarse. It can be short-lived (acute) or long-lasting (chronic). Most of the time, laryngitis comes on quickly and lasts as long as two weeks.

See an illustration of the larynx.

What causes laryngitis?
Laryngitis is caused by overuse, irritation, or infection of the vocal cords inside the larynx. Some of the most common causes are:

1.An upper respiratory infection, especially a cold or flu.
2.Straining or overusing the voice, such as by prolonged loud talking, shouting, cheering, or singing.
3.Allergies.
4.Exposure to irritants, such as smoke or chemicals.
5.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This is called reflux laryngitis

What are the symptoms?
The main symptom of laryngitis is hoarseness. Your voice may sound raspy, be deeper than normal, or break occasionally. You may lose your voice completely.

Other symptoms may include a dry or sore throat, coughing, and difficulty swallowing. A child who has severe pain, drooling, and difficulty breathing may have epiglottitis, a serious condition that requires emergency care.

How is laryngitis diagnosed?
Your doctor can identify laryngitis related to a cold, flu, or other virus. You will be asked about your health history and the nature of your voice problem, such as when it began and whether it seems to be related to an illness. Your doctor will also perform a physical exam that usually includes feeling your neck for sensitive areas or lumps and looking at your nose, mouth, and throat for inflammation. The appearance of your vocal cords and the sound of your voice will help your doctor determine whether your laryngitis will go away on its own or whether you need treatment.

You may be referred to a specialist (otolaryngologist) if you have voice problems and hoarseness that do not have an obvious cause and that last longer than 2 weeks. A specialist may examine your vocal cords with a small mirror or a fiber-optic scope.

How is it treated?
Home treatment is usually all that is needed for laryngitis. This includes resting your voice, adding moisture to your environment (humidification), taking throat lozenges, avoiding smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke, and drinking fluids.

Depending upon the nature of your voice problem, speech training or modification may be a part of your treatment. Your doctor may send you to a speech-language pathologist (speech therapist) for this. This type of therapy helps you learn new methods of talking or how to change bad habits that can cause recurring laryngitis and other problems. Using proper voice technique also helps your larynx heal.

Vocal cords that have been damaged, such as by sores or polyps, may require surgery.