Laryngitis

Laryngitis (lair-in-JY-tis) is an inflammation of the vocal cords that causes hoarseness or a temporary loss of voice.

The vocal cords are the two bands of muscle found inside the larynx (LAIR-inks), or voice box, located between the base of the tongue and the top of the trachea ^* . As they let air into and out of the lungs, the vocal cords are relaxed. When a person talks, however, the vocal cords tighten as air passes through them, causing the cords to vibrate and thereby produce sound.

People who lose their voice after cheering too much at a hockey game or who begin to sound hoarse or raspy when they have a bad cold probably have laryngitis. Laryngitis refers to inflammation or irritation of the vocal cords. Inflammation causes swelling, which prevents the vocal cords from working properly, and the sounds they produce can seem strange or be hard to hear. Although laryngitis can make it difficult to communicate, it is rarely serious.

Why Do People Get Laryngitis?

Almost everyone gets laryngitis at some point, whether it is a low raspy whisper or a complete loss of voice. Overusing the voice, such as yelling, speaking too loudly or for too long, and even singing, can lead to laryngitis. People who use their voice constantly, such as radio announcers, politicians, and singers, get laryngitis more often than other people do. The larynx is located along the respiratory tract ^* , which is why respiratory infections such as the flu (influenza) and the common cold can easily spread to the voice box and cause laryngitis. People who have allergies or who develop polyps ^* on the vocal cords may also experience laryngitis. Smoking, heavy drinking, inhaling harmful fumes, and acid reflux ^* all irritate and inflame the vocal cords and can result in long-term or chronic laryngitis.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Laryngitis?

The most obvious symptoms of laryngitis are a hoarse or low voice, the inability to speak above a whisper, a raw feeling or sensation of having a lump in the throat, difficulty swallowing, and the need to clear the throat often. When laryngitis is caused by an infection such as the flu, a person may also experience sneezing, coughing, runny nose, headache, and fever.

Severe laryngitis can sometimes lead to breathing problems, especially in young children. Anyone with laryngitis who develops difficulty breathing or high fever or who is not getting better after a few days needs medical care.

How Is Laryngitis Diagnosed and Treated?

A doctor will ask about a person's symptoms and voice use to help determine whether laryngitis is the result of a respiratory infection or some other cause. In some cases, a doctor might take a close look at the vocal cords by holding a small mirror at the back of the throat. To get an even better view, a doctor might use a tiny camera on a long, thin tube that goes through the mouth or nose. This method allows the doctor to watch the vocal cords in action.

How a doctor treats laryngitis depends on what is causing it. If the cause is a viral infection, antibiotics will not help and the laryngitis will go away on its own. The doctor may recommend certain medicines to help relieve symptoms. Other tips that can help a person to feel better sooner are:

• resting the voice for several days (this means barely even a whisper) to help the vocal cords heal
• using a humidifier at home or sitting in the bathroom while a steamy shower is running; both put moisture into the air that can help to soothe an inflamed larynx
• drinking plenty of liquids
• getting lots of rest
• avoiding smoking or drinking alcohol

Laryngitis usually disappears after a few days, but it can last much longer and happen more often in people who are smokers or heavy drinkers or who use their voices for hours at a time in their jobs. It may take weeks of voice rest before their voices return to normal. Such long-term hoarseness might cause complications that require speech therapy to help prevent further damage. If growths have formed on the vocal cords over time, surgery may be needed.

Preventing Laryngitis

Laryngitis is not contagious, but colds, flu, and other infections that cause it are. Doing what is possible to avoid these infections (such as frequent hand washing) decreases a person's chances of getting laryngitis.

Following these prevention basics can help maintain a healthy voice for life:

• not shouting or talking too loudly for too long
• staying away from cigarette smoke, which irritates the entire respiratory system
• keeping vocal cords from getting dry by drinking enough water every day