<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong>Contents</strong></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Causes</span></span></em></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Symptoms</span></span></em></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Exams and Tests</span></span></em></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Treatment</span></span></em></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Outlook (Prognosis)</span></span></em></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Possible Complications</span></em></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">When to Contact a Medical Professional</span></span></em></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Prevention</span></span></em></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Laryngitis is swelling and irritation (inflammation) of the voice box (larynx).&nbsp;Laryngitis is usually associated with&nbsp;hoarseness&nbsp;or loss of voice.</span></span></p>

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a id="1" name="1">Causes</a></span></span></h2>

<p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="" src="https://www.zdrav.kz/images/refs2/27La.jpg" /></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><em>Structures of the throat include the esophagus, trachea, epiglottis and tonsils.</em></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The voice box (larynx) is located at the top of the airway to the lungs (trachea). The larynx contains the vocal cords. When the vocal cords become inflamed or infected, they swell. This can cause hoarseness. Sometimes the airway can get&nbsp;blocked.</span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The most common form of laryngitis is an infection caused by a virus, such as cold or flu viruses. It may also be caused by:</span></span></p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Allergies</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Bacterial infection</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Bronchitis</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Injury</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Irritants and chemicals</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Pneumonia</span></span></p>
	</li>
</ul>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Laryngitis often occurs with an&nbsp;upper respiratory infection.</span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Several forms of laryngitis occur in children that can lead to dangerous or fatal respiratory blockage. These forms include:</span></span></p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Croup</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Epiglottitis</span></span></p>
	</li>
</ul>

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a id="2" name="2">Symptoms</a></span></span></h2>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Fever</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Hoarseness</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Swollen lymph nodes or glands in the neck</span></span></p>
	</li>
</ul>

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a id="3" name="3">Exams and Tests</a></span></span></h2>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">A physical exam can find&nbsp;whether hoarseness is caused by a respiratory tract infection.</span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Patients with hoarseness that lasts more than a month (especially smokers) will need to see an ear, nose, and throat doctor (otolaryngologist) for tests of the throat and upper airway.</span></span></p>

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a id="4" name="4">Treatment</a></span></span></h2>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Common laryngitis is often caused by a virus, therefore&nbsp;antibiotics likely will&nbsp;not help. Your health care provider will make this decision.</span></span></p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Resting your voice helps&nbsp;to reduce inflammation of the vocal cords. A humidifier may soothe the scratchy feeling that comes with laryngitis. Decongestants and pain medicines&nbsp;may relieve the symptoms of an upper respiratory infection.</span></span></p>

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a id="5" name="5">Outlook (Prognosis)</a></span></span></h2>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Laryngitis that is not caused by a serious condition&nbsp;often&nbsp;gets better on its own.</span></span></p>

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a id="6" name="6">Possible Complications</a></span></span></h2>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">In rare cases, severe respiratory distress develops. This requires immediate&nbsp;medical attention.</span></span></p>

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a id="7" name="7">When to Contact a Medical Professional</a></span></span></h2>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Call your health care provider if:</span></span></p>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">A small child who is not teething has difficulty breathing, swallowing, or is&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003048.htm">drooling</a></span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">A child less than 3 months old has hoarseness</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Hoarseness has lasted for more than 1 week in a child, or 2 weeks in an adult</span></span></p>
	</li>
</ul>

<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><a id="8" name="8">Prevention</a></span></span></h2>

<ul>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Try to avoid people who have upper respiratory infections during cold and flu season.</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Wash your hands often.</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Do not strain your voice.</span></span></p>
	</li>
	<li>
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Stopping smoking&nbsp;can help prevent tumors of the head and neck or lungs, which&nbsp;can lead to hoarseness.</span></span></p>
	</li>
</ul>

<p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong>Source:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001385.htm">http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001385.htm</a></span></span></p>
