Laryngitis is one of the most common causes of hoarseness. It can be due to temporary swelling of the vocal folds from a cold, an upper respiratory infection, or allergies. Your doctor will treat laryngitis according to its cause. If it's due to a cold or upper respiratory infection, your doctor might recommend rest, fluids, and nonprescription pain relievers. Allergies might be treated similarly, with the addition of over-the-counter allergy medicines.

Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx or the voice box. The larynx is a hollow tube, made up of muscle and cartilage. The larynx prevents the entry of foreign matter or food into the lower airway. It allows air into the lungs, connects the pharynx to the trachea, and holds the voice box. The voice box contains the vocal chords. The vocal chords are attached to muscle and cartilage on top of the larynx. Vocal chords are made up of two tissue membranes, covered with mucus. Vocal chords vibrate and modulate the flow of air being expelled from the lungs during speech or singing.

Inflammation and swelling of larynx may be the result of overuse, irritation or infection. Infections can be bacterial, fungal or viral. However, viral infections are the most common cause of laryngitis. Viral infections cannot be treated with antibiotics. Viral laryngitis is caused by:

• Cold viruses - rhinovirus, adenovirus
• Influenza virus
• Parainfluenza virus
• Coxsackievirus
• Coronavirus
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

Bacterial infections usually follow pre-existing viral infection. Bacterial laryngitis is caused by:

• Group A streptococcus
• Streptococcus pneumoniae
• Corynebacterium diphtheriae
• Moraxella catarrhalis
• Haemophilus influenzae
• Bordetella pertussis
• Bacillus anthracis
• Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Fungal laryngitis is caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Candida albicans (especially in immunocompromised persons). Antifungals and/or steroids are prescribed for fungal infections.

Infectious laryngitis causes swelling of the vocal chords. The vocal chords then make distorted sounds. You may have a raspy or hoarse voice, be unable to speak above a whisper, or even lose your voice entirely for a few days. Other common symptoms in adults are:

• Tickling sensation and rawness of your throat
• Sore throat
• Dry throat
• Dry cough

Laryngitis can occasionally lead to pneumonia, either viral or bacterial pneumonia.

Laryngitis has a different affect on children and adults. Children are more likely to become infected with different microbes, and potentially may be contagious depending on the infecting organism. Laryngitis can also cause complications in children. Croup is one common cause of laryngitis in children. Croup causes swelling of the throat that narrows the airways. Children experience a "barking" cough. They look and feel miserable.

Remember, a child needs medical attention when he/she:

• Is drooling more than usual
• Has a whistling noise in his/her throat when breathing
• Has any trouble breathing
• Has a fever
• Has a sore throat
• Will not eat or drink
• Has a decreased number of wet diapers (indicating less than adequate drinking)

The sound of our voice is produced by vibration of the vocal folds, which are two bands of smooth muscle tissue that are positioned opposite each other in the larynx. The larynx is located between the base of the tongue and the top of the trachea, which is the passageway to the lungs (see figure).

When we're not speaking, the vocal folds are open so that we can breathe. When it's time to speak, however, the brain orchestrates a series of events. The vocal folds snap together while air from the lungs blows past, making them vibrate. The vibrations produce sound waves that travel through the throat, nose, and mouth, which act as resonating cavities to modulate the sound. The quality of our voice—its pitch, volume, and tone—is determined by the size and shape of the vocal folds and the resonating cavities. This is why people's voices sound so different.

Individual variations in our voices are the result of how much tension we put on our vocal folds. For example, relaxing the vocal folds makes a voice deeper; tensing them makes a voice higher.

Stay hydrated:

• Drink plenty of water, especially when exercising.
• If you drink caffeinated beverages or alcohol, balance your intake with plenty of water.
• Take vocal naps—rest your voice throughout the day.
• Use a humidifier in your home. This is especially important in winter or in dry climates. Thirty percent humidity is recommended.
• Avoid or limit use of medications that may dry out the vocal folds, including some common cold and allergy medications. If you have voice problems, ask your doctor which medications would be safest for you to use.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle and diet:

• Don't smoke, and avoid second-hand smoke. Smoke irritates the vocal folds. Also, cancer of the vocal folds is seen most often in individuals who smoke.
• Avoid eating spicy foods. Spicy foods can cause stomach acid to move into the throat or esophagus, causing heartburn or GERD.
• Include plenty of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables in your diet. These foods contain vitamins A, E, and C. They also help keep the mucus membranes that line the throat healthy.
• Wash your hands often to prevent getting a cold or the flu.
• Get enough rest. Physical fatigue has a negative effect on voice.
• Exercise regularly. Exercise increases stamina and muscle tone. This helps provide good posture and breathing, which are necessary for proper speaking.
• If you have persistent heartburn or GERD, talk to your doctor about diet changes or medications that can help reduce flare-ups.
• Avoid mouthwash or gargles that contain alcohol or irritating chemicals.
• Avoid using mouthwash to treat persistent bad breath. Halitosis (bad breath) may be the result of a problem that mouthwash can't cure, such as low grade infections in the nose, sinuses, tonsils, gums, or lungs, as well as from gastric acid reflux from the stomach.

Use your voice wisely:

• Try not to overuse your voice. Avoid speaking or singing when your voice is hoarse or tired.
• Rest your voice when you are sick. Illness puts extra stress on your voice.
• Avoid using the extremes of your vocal range, such as screaming or whispering. Talking too loudly and too softly can both stress your voice.
• Practice good breathing techniques when singing or talking. Support your voice with deep breaths from the chest, and don't rely on your throat alone. Singers and speakers are often taught exercises that improve this kind of breath control. Talking from the throat, without supporting breath, puts a great strain on the voice.
• Avoid cradling the phone when talking. Cradling the phone between the head and shoulder for extended periods of time can cause muscle tension in the neck.
• Consider using a microphone when appropriate. In relatively static environments such as exhibit areas, classrooms, or exercise rooms, a lightweight microphone and an amplifier-speaker system can be of great help.
• Avoid talking in noisy places. Trying to talk above noise causes strain on the voice.
• Consider voice therapy. A speech-language pathologist who is experienced in treating voice problems can teach you how to use your voice in a healthy way.