Laryngitis

When To Call A Professional

If you have a persistent fever, difficulty breathing or a cough that produces colored phlegm or blood, contact your doctor. If hoarseness lasts for several weeks after a respiratory infection, or if hoarseness develops without any respiratory infection, check with your doctor to determine whether some other condition of the vocal cords, such as a tumor, may be causing the hoarseness.

Prognosis

Laryngitis caused by a virus or vocal strain usually will disappear in a few days to a week. If the laryngitis is caused by a bacterial infection, the outlook depends on the type of bacteria involved.

Additional Info

National Institutes of Health (NIH) 31 Center Dr. Building 1 Room 344 Bethesda, MD 20892-0188 Phone: (301) 496-4000 Fax: (301) 496-0017 http://www.nih.gov/