Abstract
In therapeutic practice, we often see patients with hoarse voices, partial loss of voice, and increased voice fatigue. This
can be an acute condition against the background of a viral infection, or it can last more than two or three weeks and lead to a
deterioration in the quality of life of patients. What could be the cause of prolonged voice impairment? First of all, diseases of
the vocal cords, the presence of polyps on the vocal cords, and their injury. Some people may develop nonspecific inflammation
or unique growths, such as «bamboo nodes» on the vocal cords. Conditions such as Sjögren’s syndrome can cause excessive dryness (xerostomia), which irritates the vocal cords and leads to voice problems. Many disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
(DMARDs) used for autoimmune diseases can have side effects that negatively affect the voice, such as oral mucositis or dry mouth.
Also, long-term use of antiseptics and antibiotics can lead to candidiasis and increased dryness in the mouth. Diseases such as
myasthenia gravis and multiple sclerosis can affect the nerves and muscles that control voice production, leading to weakness
and fatigue of the voice. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is more common in some autoimmune patients, can
also cause voice changes due to irritation of the vocal cords by stomach acid.
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