Sore throat and laryngitis are common conditions caused by various factors, including colds, flu, allergies, and pollution. Laryngitis causes hoarseness and can be acute or chronic, while sore throat can be a symptom of laryngitis or other serious conditions. It’s best to see a doctor if either condition persists for more than a few days.
Sore throat and laryngitis are fairly common and relatively minor conditions that affect the esophagus and larynx. While “sore throat” is a term used to describe almost any type of throat pain caused by a variety of conditions, laryngitis is specifically an inflammation of the voice box and usually causes hoarseness or a weak voice. Both of these conditions can be caused by some of the same things, especially colds and flu.
Laryngitis causes hoarseness because the membranes covering the vocal cords become inflamed, distorting or muffled the sounds made when a person speaks. In extreme cases, the sufferer can almost completely lose his voice. It doesn’t interfere with breathing, but it can make communication difficult.
This condition can be acute or chronic. Acute laryngitis usually comes on quickly and goes away in no more than two weeks; minimizing the use of your voice can help speed recovery. Chronic laryngitis is recurring or long-term laryngitis and can be caused by factors such as nerve damage, vocal cord polyps, or acid reflux. Stomach acid backing up into the esophagus can irritate and inflame the voice box, leading to laryngitis.
Sore throat itself is often a symptom of laryngitis. Other symptoms may include cough, dry throat, and difficulty swallowing. Sore throat and laryngitis can also be caused by allergies or irritation from pollution or smoke inhalation. The two conditions may share many causes, and one may be a symptom of the other.
A large number of problems besides laryngitis have a sore throat as a symptom, including throat cancer and viral or bacterial infections such as strep throat, mononucleosis, candida, and even AIDS. Most sore throats are simple inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the throat. A simple sore throat is usually not serious and usually goes away within a few days. If it persists for a week or more, it could be a symptom of a more serious condition or even another problem, such as epiglottitis.
Because sore throats and laryngitis can be caused by so many different factors and can be interconnected, it’s always best to see a doctor if a person is unsure of the cause of either condition. A doctor should also be consulted if either condition persists for more than a few days. A sore throat and laryngitis may be minor irritations that pass quickly, but if either condition persists, it could indicate a more serious health issue.
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