Hoarseness

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

• Abnormal menstruation

• Edema

• Respiratory wheeze

• Difficulty breathing / breathlessness

• Facial edema

• Fever

• Chest pain during swallowing

• Dysphagia

• Small voice

• Sinusitis

  Infection of the sinuses, which are cavities around the nose. The infection can be acute (lasting about a week) or chronic (lasting for more than three months). It can be caused by viruses or bacteria.

• Vocal cord paralysis

  A condition where the nerves supplying the vocal cords are damaged, causing them to move poorly. Causes include strokes, and radiotherapy/surgery to the neck.

• Hypothyroidism

  A disorder where levels of thyroid hormone in the body are abnormally low. These hormones are needed for growth, development and metabolism.

• Acromegaly
• Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
• Acute tonsillitis / pharyngitis
• Myasthenia gravis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

• Bronchial asthma

  A condition where the airways are highly sensitive and overreact to foreign substances or environmental changes. The underlying cause is unclear but involves genetics. There are many triggers for asthma flares, including smoke, pollen, dust mite droppings, cold weather, exercise and viral infections.

• Pertussis