Laryngitis
Background
- a common and self-limited inflammatory condition lasting less than three weeks,
- usually associated with either an upper respiratory tract infection or acute vocal strain
Causative Agents
Clinical Features
- Hoarseness resulting from an upper respiratory tract infection
- Often associated with rhinorrhea, cough, and mild sore throat
Differential Diagnosis
Emergent/urgent causes
- Tracheal injury, laryngeal airway trauma, Strangulation
- Posterior sternoclavicular dislocation
- Iatrogenic injury to recurrent laryngeal nerve: vagal nerve stimulator complication, ENT, thyroid, or thoracic surgery
- Foreign body aspiration
- Caustic ingestion, smoke inhalation injury, blister chemical agents
- Angioedema
- Hypothyroidism/myxedema of vocal cords
- Neck mass, squamous cell carcinoma, mediastinal adenopathy
- Aortic dissection, nontraumatic thoracic aortic dissection
- Epiglottitis, diphtheria
- Ludwig's angina
- Leishmaniasis
- Botulism
- Myasthenia gravis
- Acute flaccid myelitis
- Scorpion envenomation, Elapidae bites
- Stroke (lateral medullary infarction)
- Parkinson's disease
Non-emergent causes
- Laryngitis
- GERD
- Post intubation, laryngeal mask airway, or supraglottic airway
- Voice overuse/misuse
- Vocal cord nodules
- Voice may sound abnormal to you, but be totally normal for that patient!
Workup
- Clinical diagnosis
Management
- Self-limited
Disposition
- Home