laryngitis
Meaning of laryngitis: Laryngitis causes hoarseness or voice loss when the vocal folds swell, most often from a viral infection, overuse, or irritant exposure.
Definition of laryngitis
Laryngitis is inflammation of the larynx, the structure in the throat that contains the vocal folds and produces the voice. The inflammation causes the vocal folds to swell, which typically results in hoarseness, a weak or breathy voice, or a temporary loss of voice, sometimes accompanied by a dry cough or throat irritation.
Common causes include viral upper respiratory infections, vocal strain from prolonged or forceful voice use, exposure to irritants such as smoke, and reflux of stomach contents into the throat. Most cases resolve within one to two weeks as the underlying cause resolves and the vocal folds heal.
Laryngitis that persists beyond several weeks is generally evaluated further, since a prolonged change in voice can occasionally reflect a different underlying condition affecting the vocal folds rather than a self-limited inflammatory episode.
How laryngitis is built
- laryng/o Combining form · Greek larynx, voice box
- -itis Suffix · Greek inflammation
A medical term is read from its ending backwards: the suffix first, then the prefix, then the root. See all 223 word parts.
Used in a sentence
The patient presented with three days of hoarseness and throat discomfort consistent with acute laryngitis.
Good to know
Acute laryngitis from infection or vocal strain is expected to resolve within a few weeks; hoarseness lasting substantially longer is generally evaluated further rather than assumed to be ordinary laryngitis.
Word origin
Where “laryngitis” comes from
Formed from laryng-, from Greek larynx, meaning "the upper windpipe," and -itis, meaning "inflammation."