The peak season for summer flu is – of course – summer. However, the name is misleading in another way. Summer flu has nothing to do with the “real” flu (influenza), which is usually rampant in winter. Both diseases are caused by viruses, but summer flu is much easier to catch than the flu. Colds in summer are commonly referred to as summer flu.
What are the symptoms of summer flu?
The symptoms of summer flu are similar to those of a simple cold: runny nose, cough, sometimes sore throat, possibly mild fever, body aches and fatigue. The disease develops slowly and symptoms appear gradually.
What are the symptoms of a “real” flu?
The flu, the “real” flu, starts suddenly. Suddenly you feel very bad. Typical symptoms of the flu are: fever, cough, sore throat, headache and body aches. You feel very bad. Flu waves, i.e. periods with increased flu activity, usually begin in January and last three to four months. Cases of the flu are very rare in the summer because the viruses are sensitive to ultraviolet light and heat.
How do you get the summer flu?
There are more than 200 different viruses that can cause a cold – also known as the flu. In winter, rhinoviruses are usually the most common trigger for a cold. However, in summer, so-called enteroviruses increasingly come into play. They are considered summer flu triggers. These pathogens multiply in the intestines and are excreted into the toilet in feces. Due to poor hygiene, they are transmitted by smear infection when shaking hands or eating. In addition to summer flu, pathogens can also cause foot and mouth disease, myocarditis, pneumonia and other diseases.
If you have cold symptoms – also test for Corona
Even though there are no longer any corona protection measures, the virus has not disappeared. Since the symptoms can be similar to those of a cold or summer flu, you should always consider the possibility of a corona infection. Test can detect coronavirus.
How to treat summer flu?
Even with all caution, the summer flu cannot always be avoided. If the virus has already struck, the tips below may provide relief. Unfortunately, there is no medicine that can shorten the summer flu. Antibiotics also don’t work because they only act on bacteria. The immune system has to fight a viral infection on its own, and you can only support it.
This is how you can relieve the symptoms
- Physical protection: You should stay in bed and rest for at least the first two days. Even after that, if you are outdoors, it is best to stay in the shade.
- Heavy sweating and diarrhea can upset your electrolyte balance, but a spicy soup will balance that out.
- It is very important to drink plenty of water because it supports the immune system. The mucus can be dissolved better. Herbal tea spritzers and fruit juices are ideal, but not iced.
- Inhalations help to moisten the mucous membranes and remove mucus.
- Rinse your nose with salt water – this reduces swelling of the nasal mucous membranes more gently than with a nasal spray.
- To support the immune system, you should eat fresh fruits because the vitamins support the immune system.
- Suck on throat sweets and gargle with sage tea – this soothes the throat and relieves inflammation.
- Fever is particularly stressful in the summer heat. Cold compresses for the calves can help here – preferably with a little vinegar in the water – or a fever-reducing tablet.
- Extreme heat and direct sunlight should be avoided, as well as environments with dry or smoky air.
How long does summer flu last?
The summer flu – or cold – is usually cured in less than a week, but you should take it easy for a while. In rare cases, the virus can spread to the heart muscle or lungs. Warning signs occur when someone has little resilience after a cold, for example when they suddenly go upstairs breathing heavily.
Can you prevent a cold?
Prevention has its limits: Vaccination against colds is generally not possible due to the many different types of viruses. Since pathogens are mainly transmitted via droplet infection, i.e. when talking, coughing or sneezing, it is difficult to escape. Large gatherings of people in particular, whether at summer festivals, on holiday planes or in the swimming pool, are risky.
How to avoid infection?
If you want to keep pathogens at bay, you should first and foremost ensure a strong immune system. Tried and tested advice for this is: regular exercise, as little stress as possible and moderation in alcohol and tobacco consumption. In addition, a diet rich in vitamins. If you come into contact with a lot of people, you should also pay attention to hygiene, for example by washing your hands frequently. This also protects you against the summer flu pathogen, which is transmitted through smear infections. Wearing a mask is also a proven option to protect yourself from pathogens – and not just the coronavirus.
Other tips to protect yourself against infections
- Change out of wet clothing immediately – for example, in the pool or after a rain shower – to protect your body from cooling down.
- Do not stay in cold water for too long – this especially applies to children.
- Avoid rooms with a lot of air conditioning and don’t leave the car’s air conditioning too cold.
- Exposing yourself to the sun for too long weakens your immune system.
Cold or hot – too much is too much
The risk of catching a cold in high temperatures is often underestimated. Wet swimsuits, cold feet in sandals, drafts from open windows or fans, or very cold air conditioning make you vulnerable to virus attacks. But too much heat, for example due to intense sunbathing, weakens the body.
Furthermore, the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose dry out quickly when a warm body is exposed to drafts. Viruses then easily enter the body. In general, strong temperature fluctuations should be avoided – i.e. in cool rooms or at night, we simply recommend another layer of clothing.
Why do people get sick so often, especially on vacation?
Why do so many people get infected in the first few days of their vacation? Most people experience a lot of stress in the last few days before their vacation: work projects need to be completed and vacation preparations need to be made at the same time – packing, shopping, accommodating pets, canceling newspaper subscriptions and more. Getting there can also be a major hassle, with lines at ticket counters, traffic jams on the highway or whining children in the back seats.
Viruses unknown to our immune systems often lurk in vacation destinations. Viruses attack the body more easily if it is weakened, for example because of unfamiliar foods or a gastrointestinal disorder.