Laryngitis is an inflammation of your voice box (larynx) from overuse, irritation or infection.

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Inside the larynx are your vocal cords — two folds of mucous membrane covering muscle and cartilage.

Normally, your vocal cords open and close smoothly, forming sounds through their movement and vibration.

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But in laryngitis, your vocal cords become inflamed or irritated.

This swelling causes distortion of the sounds produced by air passing over them. As a result, your voice sounds hoarse.

In some cases of laryngitis, your voice can become almost undetectable.

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Laryngitis may be short-lived (acute) or long-lasting (chronic).

Most cases of laryngitis are triggered by a temporary viral infection or vocal strain and aren’t serious.

Persistent hoarseness can sometimes signal a more serious underlying medical condition.