Hoarsness of voice causes

. Infectious Causes

• Viral Laryngitis: Most common cause; due to viral upper respiratory infections.
• Bacterial or Fungal Infections: Rare but can occur, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.

2. Voice Overuse or Trauma

• Vocal Cord Strain: From shouting, singing, or prolonged speaking.
• Vocal Cord Nodules or Polyps: Non-cancerous growths due to repetitive strain.
• Vocal Cord Hemorrhage: Sudden loss of voice due to ruptured blood vessels after intense voice use.

3. Allergies and Irritants

• Allergic Rhinitis: Postnasal drip can irritate the throat and vocal cords.
• Chemical Irritants: Smoke, pollution, or chemical fumes.
• Dry Air: Leads to vocal cord dehydration.

4. Reflux Disorders

• Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR): Acid reflux irritates the larynx and vocal cords, leading to chronic hoarseness.
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Similar mechanism affecting the esophagus and larynx.

5. Neurological Conditions

• Vocal Cord Paralysis: Injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (e.g., post-surgery, stroke).
• Parkinson’s Disease: Weak voice due to neurological control issues.
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): Voice changes due to nerve dysfunction.

6. Structural and Tumor-Related Causes

• Laryngeal Cancer: Hoarseness is often an early symptom.
• Thyroid Tumors or Goiter: Compression of the recurrent laryngeal nerve.
• Cysts or Granulomas: From trauma, reflux, or infection.

7. Hormonal Changes

• Hypothyroidism: Thickening of vocal cords due to myxedema.
• Androgen Excess: Voice deepening in women (e.g., due to polycystic ovary syndrome or steroid use).
• Puberty: Temporary hoarseness during voice changes in adolescent boys.

8. Autoimmune and Inflammatory Conditions

• Rheumatoid Arthritis: Affects the cricoarytenoid joint of the larynx.
• Sarcoidosis: Granulomas in the larynx.
• Sjögren’s Syndrome: Dryness of the throat affecting the voice.

9. Psychological Factors

• Functional Dysphonia: Voice changes without an apparent physical cause, often stress-related.

10. Medications and Toxicities

• Inhaled Corticosteroids: Common in asthma or COPD; can cause vocal cord irritation.
• Antihistamines: Dry out the vocal cords.
• Chemotherapy or Radiation: Damage to the vocal cord tissues.

11. Others

• Trauma or Surgery: Direct injury to the larynx or recurrent laryngeal nerve.
• Smoking: Chronic irritation and risk of laryngeal cancer.
• Alcohol: Dehydrates and irritates vocal cords.