Question and Answer Forum

Is chronic laryngitis associated with CFS?

By David S. Bell MD, FAAP

Published in Lyndonville News, April 1999

Question: I realize that there is no cure for what I have, but want to find out if chronic laryngitis is an associated symptom in trying to put the puzzle together. Yours is the first article that refers to throat discomfort.

Answer: The symptom of chronic laryngitis has never been formally associated with CFS, and by itself, that symptom usually would prompt an evaluation by an Ears, Nose & Throat specialist for a direct visualization of the vocal cords. This would be particularly important if you have a history of vocal cord injury, smoking or weight loss.

On the other hand, dysphonia is a symptom that I see quite frequently with patients who have severe CFS. In this symptom, there is a change in the vocal quality, which correlates to the degree of fatigue. Patients with severe CFS frequently will have a very weak voice, which does not produce the same quality of sound as prior to the illness. In this situation, laryngoscopy testing is normal and an adequate explanation has not been provided for this symptom. It has been my observation that patients who have dysphonia, the voice quality may improve during periods of remission when the generalized symptoms are somewhat improved.

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