Coughs and Colds

You have indicated that your most bothersome symptom is a hoarse voice or lost voice. This problem can be caused by an infection, by chemical irritation of the vocal cords (usually by refluxed stomach acid), or by vocal cord muscle weakness or paralysis. In order to know what diagnosis is most likely, it will be helpful to know how long you have had symptoms.

How long have you had a hoarse or absent voice? Less than two weeks. Two weeks or longer.

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Online Medical Reviewer: McDonald, Thad, MD Date Last Reviewed: 5/4/2006 Date Last Modified: 3/30/2006 Source: from Harvard Health Decision Guides, Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.

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