Hoarseness

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Throat anatomy

Voice strain; Dysphonia; Loss of voice

Hoarseness may be short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic).

Rest and time may improve the hoarseness. Crying, shouting, and too much talking or singing may make the problem worse. Be patient, because the healing process may take several days. Don't talk unless you really need to and avoid whispering. Whispering can strain the vocal cords more than speaking does.

Gargling does not help the vocal cords. Avoid decongestants because they dry the vocal cords and prolong irritation. If you smoke, reduce or stop smoking.

Humidifying the air with a vaporizer or drinking fluids can offer some relief.

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Treat conditions such as:

• Alcoholism
• Allergies
• Bronchitis
• Laryngitis

Make an appointment with a health care provider if:

• You also have difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Hoarseness occurs with drooling, especially in a small child
• A child less than 3 months old is hoarse
• Hoarseness has lasted for more than 1 week in a child, or 2 weeks in an adult

If you are having severe difficulty breathing, the first priority is to restore normal breathing. This may require the placement of a breathing tube.

Once your condition is stable, the doctor will examine your throat and mouth. You will be asked questions about your symptoms and medical history, including:

• Quality
  • Did you lose your voice completely?
  • Is your voice weak?
  • Does it sound breathy, scratchy, or husky?
• Time pattern
  • Does the voice change continue?
  • Does the voice change occur repeatedly (recurrent)?
  • Has the condition gotten worse gradually over time?
  • At what age did the voice change begin?
  • How long have you had this symptom?
• Aggravating factors
  • Have you been shouting, singing, or overusing your voice?
  • Have you been exposed to irritating fumes?
  • Have you swallowed a harsh (caustic) liquid?
  • Have you swallowed a foreign object?
  • Do you use alcohol?
  • Do you smoke?
  • Do you have a history of allergies?
  • Has the infant or child been crying a lot?
  • Have you had recent surgery or a procedure on the mouth or throat?
• Other
  • What other symptoms do you have?
  • Do you have a fever?
  • Do you have malaise?
  • Are you coughing?
  • Are you weak?
  • Do you have a sore throat?
  • Do you feel fatigued?
  • Do you have postnasal drip?

Tests that may be done include:

• Laryngoscopy
• Throat culture
• Throat examination with a small mirror
• X-rays of the neck or CT scan

Blood tests such as a complete blood count ( CBC) or blood differential may be done.

Treatment depends on the cause of the problem.

Review Date: 11/23/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, Unviersity of Washington, School of Medicine; and Seth Schwartz, MD, MPH, Otolaryngologist, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).