Medical expert of the article
New publications
Acute and chronic laryngitis - Causes and pathogenesis
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Causes of acute and chronic laryngitis
Acute laryngitis develops relatively rarely as an independent disease and can be of inflammatory and non-inflammatory nature. Usually acute laryngitis is a symptom complex of acute respiratory viral infections (flu, parainfluenza, adenovirus infection), in which the mucous membrane of the nose and pharynx, and sometimes the lower respiratory tract (bronchi, lungs) are also involved in the inflammatory process. The first place among the causes of acute laryngitis is occupied by respiratory viruses (up to 90% of cases), followed by bacterial (staphylococci, streptococci), chlamydial and fungal infections. Acute epiglottitis, abscess of the epiglottis is most often caused by Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes. Causes of laryngitis are infection, external and internal trauma of the neck and larynx, including inhalation injuries and foreign body ingress, allergy, gastroesophageal reflux. Voice load is of great importance, especially with the use of a hard attack. The occurrence of inflammatory pathology of the larynx is facilitated by surgical diseases of the bronchopulmonary system, nose and paranasal sinuses, metabolic disorders in diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism or gastrointestinal diseases, chronic renal failure, pathology of the dividing function of the larynx, abuse of alcoholic beverages and tobacco, radiation therapy. Specific (secondary laryngitis develops with tuberculosis, syphilis, infectious (diphtheria) and systemic diseases (Wegener's granulomatosis, rheumatoid arthritis, amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, polychondritis, etc.), as well as with blood diseases. The immune aspects of chronic inflammatory pathology of the larynx have not been fully studied. Immune system disorders are detected.
[ Pathogenesis of acute and chronic laryngitis
In the pathogenesis of acute laryngeal edema and chronic edematous-polypous laryngitis, anatomical features of the Reinke space play a major role. The disruption of lymph drainage and local complete exchange is important. Edema of the mucous membrane can occur in any part of the larynx and quickly spread to others, causing acute stenosis of the larynx.
Chronic hyperplastic laryngitis is characterized by hyperplasia of the epithelium of the laryngeal mucosa; the pathogenesis of the disease is unknown. Chronic laryngitis is characterized by a recurrent course. They are considered precancerous diseases. The greatest probability of malignancy is with hyperplastic laryngitis accompanied by keratosis.