Nursery World - Lost for words

In our A to Z series on child health, childhood laryngitis is explained by doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital What is laryngitis?

What is laryngitis?

Laryngitis is an infection or inflammation of the larynx (voice box). It is a common throat condition generally associated with a sore throat, hoarseness or loss of voice, and frequently occurs in children over the age of three and young adults.

What causes laryngitis?

The voice box contains the vocal cords and is located at the top of the airway to the lungs. When the vocal cords become infected by a virus they swell. Occasionally it can also cause obstruction of the airway. Laryngitis often occurs during an upper respiratory infection and usually goes away by itself. It is not normally associated with breathing difficulties.

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