Laryngitis - Diagnosis
A common clue used to diagnose laryngitis is the recent occurrence of a cold or the flu followed by hoarseness. The throat usually appears red and somewhat swollen. The doctor will usually listen to the patient's chest and back with a stethoscope. A harsh, wheezing sound is an indication of laryngitis.
Chronic (persistent) laryngitis may suggest the presence of tuberculosis. In such a case, a doctor can use an instrument known as a laryngoscope (pronounced luh-RING-guh-skope) to look directly into the patient's airway. The presence of redness, swelling, nodules (small lumps), and sores indicates the possibility of tuberculosis.
