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To: "VOCALIST" <vocalist>
Subject: Re: Soprano recovering from the flu - many questions
Date sent: Sun, 9 Jan 2000 18:43:12 -0500
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

> My question is how does the flu affect the voice, particularly the hacking
> cough that comes with it. What DOES coughing actually *do* to the vocal
> folds

See my response to the subject Re: cough

>How long does it usually
> take to fully recover from the flu vocally? How do opera singers take
care
> of themselves and their voices when they are sick?? Are there any home
> remedies for singers with the flu?

Influenza as opposed to other viruses incorrectly classified as "the flu"
lasts 10-14 days. If the singer does not have his/her voice affected,
there's no problem singing as soon as your energy returns. Typically, type
B flu does not affect the voice and has little cough associated with it. It
is mostly extreme fatigue, muscle aches and nausea.

Type A flu is classic: severe aches (like getting hit by a truck then
falling off a building), severe sore throat, severe headache, temp 103-104
(39.5-40 C) and hacking cough without sputum. This can affect the voice
from all the coughing and is associated with secondary bacterial infections,
such as, bronchitis and pneumonia. It is the bacterial diseases that are
the problem as they inflame the airways including the vocal folds, although
the coughing from the flu can irritate the folds.

If one's voice is affected, one should start out with humming or less than
full voice vocalises in mid range to start to get strength back. Gradual
extension of range and duration of singing should allow recovery.

John

John Messmer, MD, Assistant Professor, Family & Community Medicine
Medical Director, Penn State Geisinger Health Group, Palmyra, PA

"Try not. Do or do not; there is no 'try'." -- Yoda