publish time

27/07/2024

author name Arab Times

publish time

27/07/2024

Summer sickness: Why colds, flu, and COVID-19 don’t disappear with warm weather.

NEW YORK, July 27: As summer beckons with vacations and beach days, many people may be caught off guard by unexpected cold or flu symptoms. Despite the warmer weather, experts confirm that respiratory viruses don’t vanish with the arrival of summer.

Dr. Jim Conway, medical director of the University of Wisconsin Health Immunization Programs, highlights that enteroviruses, which commonly cause summer colds, are often mistaken for allergies. “There’s a whole group of viruses called enteroviruses that very commonly cause summer colds,” Conway tells Yahoo Life.

Why summer can amplify respiratory viruses

Several factors contribute to the spread of respiratory viruses during the warmer months:

  • Increased travel: This summer is expected to be the busiest travel season ever, according to the Transportation Security Administration. Millions of travelers in close quarters on airplanes and public transport, with limited ventilation and masking, create ideal conditions for virus transmission.
  • Southern Hemisphere flu season: As many people travel to the Southern Hemisphere—where it’s winter—flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are at their peak. “If you're traveling to places like Australia or South America, you’re at risk of picking up these viruses and bringing them back,” explains Dr. David Weber, an epidemiology professor at the University of North Carolina.
  • Heat-induced indoors: Extreme heat can drive people indoors to escape the heat, often into air-conditioned environments with poor ventilation. These conditions mimic the winter environment that facilitates virus spread.
  • Waning immunity: The effectiveness of the flu vaccine can diminish over time, especially by late spring. Conway notes that flu strains may evolve, leading to outbreaks even among vaccinated individuals. Additionally, the evolving nature of SARS-CoV-2 contributes to summer peaks in COVID-19 cases.

Distinguishing between cold, flu, COVID-19, and allergies

Recognizing the differences between these illnesses can be challenging:

  • Cold: Symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, and mild cough typically develop gradually. Fever and muscle aches are less common and usually mild.
  • Flu: Flu symptoms, including sudden onset of fever, severe headache, and body aches, come on abruptly. “If you wake up with intense symptoms like a high fever and feeling extremely unwell, it’s more likely the flu,” says Dr. Aashish Didwania from Northwestern University.
  • COVID-19: COVID-19 symptoms can include loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Jennifer Walsh from George Washington University School of Nursing advises that both COVID-19 and influenza cause significant body-wide symptoms but suggests testing for a precise diagnosis.
  • Allergies: Seasonal allergies typically cause itchy eyes, sneezing, and a runny nose without fever or body aches. “Allergies are distinguished by itchy eyes, which are not common with colds or the flu,” Didwania notes.

What to do if you get sick

Recovering from a summer respiratory virus involves similar care as for winter illnesses. Resting at home, using acetaminophen or ibuprofen for headaches and body aches, and nasal saline sprays for congestion can help. Antivirals like Paxlovid and Tamiflu are effective if used promptly for COVID-19 or the flu.

Experts recommend getting an annual flu shot every fall, even if you experience the flu during summer. “There are many flu strains, and each year’s vaccine is updated to cover the most prevalent ones,” Conway advises. Maintaining your flu vaccination schedule ensures the best protection throughout the year.