Causes
Acute laryngitis refers to hoarseness or loss of voice that appears suddenly
after a night of singing and shouting, or being exposed to a lot of cigarette
smoke. This condition usually improves when you avoid whatever has been
irritating the throat (like cigarettes) and and when you rest your voice. The
common cold and influenza (the flu) are common causes of acute laryngitis, but
it can also be a symptom of bronchitis, pneumonia, and measles. Hoarseness may
also be part of an allergic reaction.
Chronic laryngitis lasts longer than a week, and comes back over time.
This condition can involve permanent changes in the lining of the throat. These
changes could be due to repeated attacks of acute laryngitis like those sometimes
experienced by professional singers, or happen because of repeated exposure
to smoke, dust, dryness, or other irritants. Chronic laryngitis can also be
caused by allergies and post-nasal drip or gastroesophageal reflux disorder
(when harsh stomach acids rise up into the esophagus and cause burning). Rarer
causes of chronic laryngitis include cancer of the throat, non-cancerous tumors
on the vocal cords, and non-cancerous wart-like lesions called papillomas
that grow in the throat.