Larynx is the name of the organ lying between the mouth and trachea. It is the organ that is responsible for talking, shouting or singing. It has a soft muscular covering called epiglottis and when there is inflammation in this lining it is called laryngitis. This organ controls the voice box managing the pitch of the voice and its tone etc. It also determines the nature of voice to be hoarse, sweet and husky. When the larynx develops inflammation it affects the voice box and subsequently the voice becomes hoarse or gravel like.
Excess of talking and respiratory tract infection can cause swelling on the muscles of larynx and this disease is contagious when it is of infectious nature. In severe cases, laryngitis may cause polyps or cyst like growth on the vocal cord and on further complication it may lead to chronic bronchitis and pneumonia.
Laryngitis Causes :
Laryngitis can be caused by excess of talking or shouting when you are emotionally high. Any infection can also affect the inner lining of larynx affecting the voice cord. Chronic form of laryngitis can develop due to excess of coughing and smoking.
GERD (Gastro-Esophageal-Reflux-Disease) is one of the common causes for laryngitis in which acidity from the stomach is sent to the larynx due to reflux reaction causing inflammation of the lining of muscles. It would cause irritation which in turn may cause swelling of vocal cord affecting the nature of sound. Stroke or nervous disorder can affect the larynx causing paralysis of the nerves making it difficult to talk and eat.
Any accidental injury or trauma is also another reason for laryngitis in which the muscles or nerves gets affected. People who have undergone surgery in larynx can have such problem. Sometimes, development of tumor like growth in the neck can compress the underlying nerves affecting vocal cord muscles.