1. Laryngitis is the inflammation of the vocal folds and larynx, resulting in hoarseness, or in extreme forms, losing the voice. Trying to sing with laryngitis will probably make matters worse. When inflamed, the folds can become infected and acute laryngitis can set in. See your doctor for treatment, and donΓÇÖt try to sing - preferably donΓÇÖt speak - until the infection is cured or goes away. Chronic laryngitis (sometimes known as clergymanΓÇÖs throat) can follow if the acute form is not cured. This can be the result of habitually over-straining the voice. Improve your vocal technique.
2. Pharyngitis is the inflammation of the pharynx, the upper part of the throat. Acute pharyngitis makes singing painful, and possibly permanently damaging to the singing mechanism. The pharynx becomes infected by bacteria, possibly after exposure to severe cold or to damaging vapours. After you have been singing, the pharynx is particularly sensitive and open to such infection. DonΓÇÖt suddenly expose yourself to cold air, and donΓÇÖt strain by shouting or screaming.
3. The bronchi are the tubes that convey air to the lungs. Bronchitis is a disease which is caused by infection of the bronchial network. Its symptoms are disastrous to singing - breathlessness, chest pain and a dry cough. It can be made more acute by exposure to dust, gaseous irritants or smoke. Cough mixtures and inhalations can give some relief, as can treatment of the infection with anti-biotics. See your doctor.
4. The common cold doesnΓÇÖt necessarily mean you have to cancel your concert tonight. Colds can lay the vocal folds and larynx open to infection, so be careful, but if singing isnΓÇÖt uncomfortable, youΓÇÖll probably be all right. Try to keep breathing through your nose. The nose is there to clean the air you breathe in. It filters out irritants and bacteria that might lead to the throat infections commonly associated with the latter stages of a cold. Excess mucus and a blocked nose can affect the sound you make, and it can be difficult to hear yourself clearly with a cold, so itΓÇÖs best to avoid singing in public if you can.
