Laryngitis is an inflammation of the voice box (larynx) that causes your child's voice to become raspy or hoarse. Most of the time, laryngitis comes on quickly and lasts as long as 2 weeks. It is caused by overuse, irritation, or infection of the vocal cords inside the larynx.
Some of the most common causes are a cold, the flu, or allergies. Loud talking, shouting, cheering, or singing also can cause laryngitis. Stomach acid that backs up into the throat also can make your child lose their voice.
Resting the voice and taking other steps at home can help your child get their voice back.
Laryngitis is an inflammation of the voice box, or larynx. Laryngitis is usually caused by a virus, such as a cold, and is temporary, going away within a week or two.
The larynx is located in the throat just above the windpipe (trachea) and is made up of cartilage, ligaments, and muscles. The two vocal cords in the larynx are covered with a mucous membrane. When air passes through the vocal cords, they vibrate and produce sound. When the larynx is inflamed or injured, the voice may be raspy, hoarse, or lower in pitch, or it may be only a whisper. Sometimes a person with laryngitis has no voice at all.
The main symptom of laryngitis is hoarseness. Your voice may sound raspy, be deeper than normal, or break now and then. You may lose your voice completely. Other symptoms may include a dry or sore throat, coughing, and trouble swallowing.
With most cases of laryngitis, home treatment is all that you need.
If acid reflux (GERD) is causing your laryngitis, you may need to take steps to reduce the reflux.
Chronic laryngitis may need more treatment. For example, if you keep getting laryngitis because of a problem with the way you talk or sing, you may need speech training. This can help you change habits that can cause laryngitis. It can also help your larynx heal.
You may need surgery if your vocal cords have been damaged, such as by sores or polyps.
A doctor will check your symptoms and listen to your voice. Your doctor may also do an exam. During the exam, the doctor may feel your neck for lumps and check your nose, mouth, ears, and throat.
If you have voice problems and hoarseness that don't have an obvious cause and that last longer than 2 weeks, your doctor may refer you to a specialist (otolaryngologist). The way your vocal cords look and the sound of your voice will help the specialist find out if your laryngitis will go away on its own or if you need treatment.
Laryngitis is an inflammation of the voice box, or larynx (say "LAIR-inks"), that causes your voice to become raspy or hoarse.
Laryngitis can be short-term or long-lasting (chronic). Most of the time, it comes on quickly and lasts no more than 2 weeks.
Chronic symptoms are those that last 2 weeks or longer. Check with your doctor if your symptoms last longer than 2 weeks. Laryngitis may be due to other causes.
Laryngitis can be caused by:
Acid reflux is the most common cause of chronic laryngitis. But chronic laryngitis may be caused by more severe problems such as nerve damage, sores, polyps, cancer, or hard and thick lumps (nodules) on your vocal cords. The vocal cords are the vibrating elastic bands inside the larynx that produce your voice.
Some hoarseness may occur naturally with age as your vocal cords loosen and grow thinner.
Call 911 anytime you think your child may need emergency care. For example, call if:
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
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