Top 10 causes of laryngitis

Laryngitis is a clinical condition that affects your voice box. But, there are many factors that are responsible for this condition. Have a look.

Written By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Updated : June 29, 2015 10:03 AM IST

Laryngitis is a clinical condition caused due to an inflammation of the larynx (voice box). This makes your vocal cords to become swollen often causing loss of voice or hoarseness. It can be short-term (acute laryngitis) or long-term (chronic laryngitis). There are varieties of factors that cause laryngitis, the common 10 of which are listed below:

GERD (Gastroesopageal reflux disease), commonly called acidityirritates your throat by pushing the contents present in the stomach into the esophageal tract.
Long-term cigarette smoking irritates the vocal cords along with causing your throat to swell.
Habitual overuse of voice or yelling incase of singers and cheerleaders strains the vocal cords.
Exposure to toxic compounds like chemical fumes, irritants or allergens are found to cause laryngitis.
Bacterial infections like diphtheria and some fungal infections are found to cause inflammation of the vocal cord.
Complications from the flu or a chronic cold caused due to viral infection and some parasitic infections also affect your larynx.
Diseases of respiratory tract and lungs like bronchitis and pneumonia do cause inflammation of larynx.
Excessive alcohol use is found to cause chronic laryngitis.
Chronic sinusitis in which the nasal passages become swollen and inflamed.
Use of inhaled steroid medications like the ones used to treat asthma.

References:

Causes of laryngitis NHS

Also Read

Laryngitis - Topic Overview WebMD

Diseases and Conditions Laryngitis Mayoclinic

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