Hoarseness (rough raspy or croaky sounding voice)
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Emergent Care - Have you identified one or more of the following symptoms?
- Shortness of breath or respirations that are either difficult, shallow, rapid or accompanied by wheezing
- High pitched musical sound when breathing in
- Inhalation of foreign body, smoke or chemical irritant
- Inability to swallow saliva
| Yes |
No |
Seek Immediate Medical Attention!
These symptoms can be life-threatening. |
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| Hoarseness may be caused by a virus, over use of vocal cords, smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages or gastric reflux
Hoarseness will usually go away within 5-7 days |
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Urgent Care - Have you identified one or more of the following symptoms?
- Fever of 101 F or above and a history of chronic disease (asthma, emphysema, diabetes, HIV, etc.) or who are elderly
- Hoarseness plus any of the following: fever, cough that brings up thick mucus, nasal drainage, ear pain, facial pain, sore throat, cough
- Hoarseness continues for more than 3 weeks
| Yes |
No |
Contact Your Health Care Provider. |
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Self-Management - You can help in the following ways:
- Avoid talking and rest voice
- Cool mist humidifier or mist from a steamy shower
- Increase fluids to 10-12 8- oz. glasses per day, if no reasons to the contrary
- Throat lozenges, antiseptic spray (Sucrets, Cepastat, Chloraseptic) to soothe throat
- Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) for fever, headache and body aches, if no reasons to the contrary
- Use salt-water gargle (1/2 tsp. in 8- oz warm water) every 2 hours, repeat as necessary
- Avoid smoking and smoked filled rooms
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