Laryngitis refers to inflammation of the larynx, the anterior tract of the trachea, where the vocal cords are located and which is the fundamental organ of phonation.
In cases of laryngitis, the vocal cords are inflamed, irritated, and sometimes swollen, which produces distortion of the sounds produced by the air passing through them and the characteristic hoarse voice or, sometimes, almost complete aphonia.
Laryngitis can be acute and therefore short-lived or persist for a long time (chronic).
