Voice disorders in adults with laryngeal tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be the foremost cause of mortality from infectious diseases on a global scale, with laryngeal tuberculosis (LTB) constituting a rare, yet clinically significant form of extrapulmonary TB. Despite accounting for less than 1% of total TB cases, LTB is the most common granulomatous disease of the larynx and poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. The symptoms of this condition, particularly dysphonia, are frequently misdiagnosed as chronic laryngitis, reflux disease, or malignancy, resulting in delayed diagnosis and management. Dysphonia is frequently the presenting symptom and the most debilitating of the symptoms experienced by patients and is caused by direct involvement of the vocal fold structures and post-infective scarring. This chapter analyses epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and diagnostic strategies for LTB, highlighting the need for accurate differentiation from cancer and other inflammatory diseases. Treatment regimens generally consist of standard anti-TB medications, though residual vocal impairment can persist, necessitating speech therapy or surgical intervention.