Both are inflammation of part of the airway, but at different depths. Laryngitis affects the larynx — the voice box in the throat — so the main symptom is hoarseness or loss of voice. Bronchitis affects the bronchial tubes in the lungs, so the main symptom is a persistent cough.
The core difference
- laryngitis — inflammation of the larynx, at the top of the airway. Affects the voice.
- bronchitis — inflammation of the bronchi, the tubes carrying air into the lungs. Affects the cough.
Location explains the symptoms
The larynx holds the vocal folds. When they swell they cannot vibrate normally, so the voice becomes hoarse, weak or disappears. Nothing about this reaches the lungs.
The bronchi sit lower, and inflamed airways produce mucus. The result is a deep, productive cough that can persist for weeks after the original infection has cleared.
Acute and chronic
Both come in acute forms, usually viral and self-limiting. Bronchitis also has a chronic form, defined by a productive cough on most days for at least three months in two consecutive years — a diagnosis strongly associated with smoking, and one of the two conditions under the umbrella of COPD.
The neighbouring -itis words
- Pharyngitis — the pharynx, the throat above the larynx. Sore throat.
- Tonsillitis — the tonsils specifically.
- Tracheitis — the windpipe, between larynx and bronchi.
- Croup — laryngotracheobronchitis: all three at once, mainly in young children, producing a distinctive barking cough.
The word-building
Every one of these is a body part plus Greek -itis, inflammation. Learning the parts in order down the airway — pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi — makes the whole family readable without memorising each term.
Larynx and bronchus are both Greek; bronchus meant windpipe. The plural of bronchus is bronchi, which is why the adjective is bronchial.
This page explains the words, not your symptoms. Anything persistent is a question for a doctor.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between laryngitis and bronchitis?
Laryngitis is inflammation of the voice box, causing hoarseness or loss of voice. Bronchitis is inflammation of the airways in the lungs, causing a persistent cough.
Can you have both at once?
Yes. Croup in young children is laryngotracheobronchitis — larynx, trachea and bronchi inflamed together, producing a barking cough.
What makes bronchitis chronic?
A productive cough on most days for at least three months in two consecutive years. It is strongly associated with smoking and falls under COPD.