Other common causes are post-nasal drip, asthma, and some high blood pressure medications. Most susceptible are smokers, because the irritation from the smoke provokes the cough. Instead, it lingers for three weeks or more and becomes chronic. Post-infectious cough is a cough that begins with a cold or other upper respiratory infection, but does not clear up when the infection does. The best prevention is frequent and thorough handwashing. Antibiotics only work against bacteria and cannot help against a viral illness. Treatment involves rest, fluids, and over-the-counter pain relievers. A persistent sore throat can be a symptom of serious illness such as mononucleosis, measles, chickenpox, or croup.ĭiagnosis is made through physical examination and throat swab. If symptoms do not clear up within 24 hours – especially in children – a medical provider should be seen. Symptoms include throat irritation pain when swallowing or talking red, swollen tonsils fever body aches and cold-like symptoms of cough, sneezing, and runny nose. Those most at risk for viral sore throat are children, smokers, those who work indoors with others, and anyone with a weakened immune system. The illness spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and then someone else inhales the airborne virus or touches a surface where it has landed. Top Symptoms: sore throat, runny nose, fever, dry cough, hoarse voiceĪ sore throat is most often caused by the same viruses that cause influenza and the common cold. Antibiotics are not effective against a viral illness. Treatment involves rest and drinking plenty of fluids until the virus has run its course, and resting the voice so the swelling can subside on its own. Hoarseness that never really clears up should be seen by a medical provider, as it can be a symptom of a more serious condition.ĭiagnosis is made through throat swab and sometimes blood tests. Symptoms include hoarseness sore, irritated throat difficulty speaking coughing and sometimes fever.įorcing speech during laryngitis can cause permanent damage to the vocal cords. Most at risk are people whose immune systems are already weakened by illness, medication, or chemotherapy. These infections are spread through casual contact, as when someone sneezes and the droplets are inhaled from the air. This causes the vocal cords to swell and leads to a hoarse, raspy voice.Ī viral infection, such as the common cold or influenza, is nearly always the cause of laryngitis.

Laryngitis an inflammation of the larynx, or voice box. Viral infection of the larynx (voice box) This list does not constitute medical advice and may not accurately represent what you have. Alcohol and smoking increases the risk of throat cancer. Some throat cancers can cause hoarseness. Some of these conditions include nerve injury or multiple sclerosis. Also, in situations requiring intubation (a tube placed in your larynx to assist with breathing) during surgery can cause injury and irritation of the larynx.Īny medical condition that can cause paralysis or tension of the vocal cords can result in chronic laryngitis. Iatrogenic (Medical related hoarse voice causes): Medications, such as inhaled corticosteroids for asthma, can cause either acute or chronic laryngitis due to its direct contact with the larynx.Overuse: Speaking too much, too loudly and even prolonged singing (watch out for those nights of karaoke) can all cause hoarseness.Acid reflux, also known as GERD, causes direct irritation to the larynx that can become chronic. Overuse of these substances can lead to chronic laryngitis and sometimes cause cancers that further contribute to hoarseness. Irritants: Alcohol and smoking can directly irritate the vocal cords and larynx.Allergies: Those seasonal allergies that cause runny nose and itchy eyes can also result in hoarseness.Ī hoarse voice can result due to lifestyle habits or certain exposures.Bacterial and fungal infections can also cause acute laryngitis. Infections: Viral upper respiratory infections can cause inflammation and irritation of the vocal cords and larynx that leads to hoarseness that usually improves once the infection subsides.Inflammatory hoarse voice causesĪ hoarse voice can result due to inflammation from the following. Depending on the cause, laryngitis can be temporary (acute) or long-lasting (chronic). Laryngitis can be caused by a variety of conditions.

When you have laryngitis, your vocal cords become so swollen they cannot open and close properly, causing your voice to sound hoarse. Inside the larynx are the vocal cords that normally open and close smoothly to help produce the sound of your voice. Inflammation of the larynx is laryngitis. Hoarseness is the result of inflammation or irritation to your voice box or larynx.

Hoarse voice