• Inflammation of the throat
• Symptoms may include voice changes such as hoarseness, difficulty talking, loss of voice and throat pain
• Caused most commonly by a virus or long-term exposure to irritants such as tobacco
• Cannot be spread from person to person
• Affects males and females
• Can occur at any age but most common in young to middle age adults
• May be mild to severe causing permanent voice damage

GENERAL THERAPY

• Usually gets better within 1 week
• Use your voice as little as possible
• Drinking plenty of fluids
• Suck on throat lozenges
• Use a humidifier
• Gargle with saltwater,
• Inhale steam
• Chew on a piece of gum
• Treat underlying causes: heartburn, smoking, or alcoholism

PRECAUTIONS AND AVOIDANCES

• Avoid alcohol and caffeine
• Avoid smoking or second-hand smoke
• Avoid clearing your throat
• Avoid upper respiratory infections
• Avoid decongestants
• Avoid whispering
• May take cough suppressant if you have a dry cough

SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IF

• You are making high pitched noisy sounds when inhaling
• When hoarseness last longer than 2 weeks
• Drooling more than usual
• Trouble swallowing
• Difficulty breathing
• Fever higher than 39 °C (103 °F)