Laryngitis is an inflammation of your voice box (larynx) from overuse, irritation or infection.
Inside the larynx are your vocal cords — two folds of mucous membrane covering muscle and cartilage. Normally, your vocal cords open and close smoothly, forming sounds through their movement and vibration.
But in laryngitis, your vocal cords become inflamed or irritated. This swelling causes distortion of the sounds produced by air passing over them. As a result, your voice sounds hoarse. In some cases of laryngitis, your voice can become almost undetectable.
Laryngitis may be short-lived (acute) or long lasting (chronic). Most cases of laryngitis are triggered by a temporary viral infection or vocal strain and aren't serious. Persistent hoarseness can sometimes signal a more serious underlying medical condition.
Causes --Most cases of laryngitis are temporary and improve after the underlying cause gets better. Causes of acute laryngitis include:-Viral infections similar to those that cause a cold, Vocal strain, caused by yelling or overusing your voice, Bacterial infections, such as diphtheria, although this is rare, in large part due to increasing rates of vaccination
Chronic laryngitis
Laryngitis that lasts longer than three weeks is known as chronic laryngitis. This type of laryngitis is generally caused by exposure to irritants over time. Chronic laryngitis can cause vocal cord strain and injuries or growths on the vocal cords (polyps or nodules). These injuries can be caused by:-Inhaled irritants, such as chemical fumes, allergens or smoke, Acid reflux, also called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Chronic sinusitis, Excessive alcohol use, Habitual overuse of your voice (such as with singers or cheerleaders), Smoking
Less common causes of chronic laryngitis include:-Bacterial or fungal infections, Infections with certain parasites
Other causes of chronic hoarseness include:-Cancer, Vocal cord paralysis, which can result from injury, stroke, a lung tumor or other health conditions,
Bowing of the vocal cords in old age
Symptoms -n most cases laryngitis symptoms last less than a couple of weeks and are caused by something minor, such as a virus. Less often, laryngitis symptoms are caused by something more serious or long lasting. Laryngitis signs and symptoms can include:-Hoarseness, Weak voice or voice lossTickling sensation and rawness of your throat, Sore throat, Dry throat, Dry cough
HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES
ACONITUM NAPELLUS 30-Aconite is an excellent medicine for acute laryngitis. Hoarseness with sudden onset especially after exposure to cold , dry wind, from a fright or shock or from overuse. Restless, fearful, anxious, feverish. There is worse at night , after midnight from cold air, from talking.Another indication is dry short cough with difficulty in breathing.
ARGENTUM METALLICUM 30—Argentum Metallicum is an excellent remedy for laryngitis resulting from overuse of the voice as seen in singers, public speakers.Argentum nitricum is prescribed when hoarseness of voice and sore/raw feeling in the larynx is present. Argentum Met is also recommended for complete loss of voice in professional singers. Hawking may appear and viscid mucus may be expectorated along with loss of voice.
ARUM TRIPHYLLUM 30- Arum Triphyllum is another good remedy for laryngitis from excessive use of voice as in public speaking or from singing.It is prescribed when the voice is uncertain and uncontrollable. Pain in larynx while clearing the throat may also arise. Burning sensation in larynx is another attending symptom. The glands in the throat and neck may also get swollen.
BELLADONNA 30-Belladonna is an effective remedy for laryngitis when hoarseness of voice is attended with pain in the larynx. Belladonna is indicated when the larynx is sore and highly painful while the voice is hoarse. The throat is red and inflamed, with difficulty in swallowing. A constricted feeling with lump-like sensation in the throat may also be experienced.
CALCAREA CARB. 30-Calcarea Carb is effective for laryngitis with painless hoarseness. Calcarea carb is prescribed when there will be hawking of mucus along with hoarseness . The hoarseness is most marked in the morning.
CARBO VEG 30—Carbo veg is another remedy for laryngitis with painless hoarseness. In Carbo Veg the hoarseness is present with itching in the larynx. Carbo Veg is prescribed when hoarseness is worse in the evening. The voice may be rough and deep, and exertion worsens the complaint.
CAUSTICUM 30-Causticum is one of the top medicines for laryngitis from exposure to cold air. Causticum is indicated when the larynx gets inflamed soon after exposure to cold air and hoarseness of voice results. Rawness and scarping sensation is also experienced in the throat. Loss of voice from cold air exposure is also treated well with this medicine Causticum.
DROSERA 30-Drosera is the best medicine for laryngitis with nagging cough.Drosera is prescribed when dry, irritative cough predominates. There is rough, scraping sensation in the throat. The voice becomes deep and hoarse. In some cases, the voice is cracked and toneless. Few persons may also have difficulty in swallowing food.
HEPAR SULPHURIUS 30-Hepar sulph.is prescribed when cough becomes loose and there is still hoarseness. Pain extends from ear to ear
PHOSPHORUS 30-Phosphorus is an effective remedy for laryngitis with violent tickling in the larynx. Cough arises from tickling in the larynx. Reading and talking worsen the cough. Hoarseness is observed and gets worse especially in the evening. Pain in larynx is also observed and may be attended with rawness of throat.
IODUM 30-Iodum is another effective remedy for laryngitis with painful hoarseness.Belladonna is prescribed when a deep, hoarse voice is attended with rough, scarping, burning pain in the throat is present. Cough is also present. Cough leads to gasping because of intense pain. Enlargement of glands in the neck may also be well noted .
MANGANUM 30 Manganum is effective for laryngitis with dry hoarse cough
SPONGIA TOSTA 30—Spongia tosta is prescribed when larynx feels dry, burning, constricted, tickling. Early stages of cough. May be accompanied by dry, barking cough. Worse at night, from touch, when swallowing and during sleep. Suffocative feelings. Better warm food and drinks, lying with head low.