Laryngitis

When you have laryngitis, your larynx or voice box and the area around it becomes inflamed, irritated, and swollen. The swelling of your vocal chords causes them to make distorted sounds, so that your voice sounds hoarse. You may find yourself unable to speak above a whisper, or even lose your voice entirely.

Laryngitis rarely causes serious problems in adults. It is usually caused by a cold or other virus and goes away by itself within 2 to 3 weeks. But it can cause complications in children, notably croup, a swelling of the throat that narrows the airways and causes a "barking" cough. Chronic hoarseness could also be a sign of something more serious.

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Review Date: 2/2/2016  

Reviewed By: Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD, Solutions Acupuncture, a private practice specializing in complementary and alternative medicine, Phoenix, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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