Introduction
A cold in summer is analogous to the classic cold, an infection of the upper respiratory tract. The most common triggers of a cold in summer are viruses. In the vernacular it is also popularly called summer flu.
It is important to distinguish it from the real seasonal flu. The real flu is caused by influenza viruses and is characterized by strong symptoms and high fever. The summer flu, on the other hand, is nothing more than a harmless cold, which is caused by other virus strains and not the influenza viruses.
Symptoms of a summer cold
The symptoms of a cold in summer slowly increase. They are similar to the symptoms that one would expect in the winter months of a classic cold. A cold can occur, which can also develop into a sinusitis.
The increased pressure in the sinuses, which is caused by the swelling of the mucous membranes and the secretion, can cause headaches. Affected persons also frequently complain of a burning sensation in the nose. As with the classic cold, the cold in summer often starts with a scratching in the throat, which then increases to sore throat.
The sore throat can be accompanied by difficulty swallowing. The irritated mucous membrane in the throat and the increased secretion cause an increased irritation of the throat. The cough can persist for several days even after the other symptoms have subsided.
A cold in summer can sometimes be accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms. However, this does not have to occur and can be very variable. Possible symptoms are abdominal pain and loss of appetite.
However, diarrhoea can also occur. The time from the infection with a virus, which triggers the summer flu, to the appearance of the symptoms is the incubation period. A summer flu can be triggered by many different viruses, accordingly, the incubation period is also very variable. Usually the symptoms appear after 2 to 14 days.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of a cold in summer is made on the basis of the symptoms. If the typical symptoms occur and there are no risk factors, a visit to the doctor is not necessarily necessary. However, if a doctor should be consulted, he or she will narrow down the symptoms in a short conversation and possibly carry out an orienting physical examination.
Further diagnostics is only useful for special patient groups and if a bacterial infection is suspected. The detection of a virus as a pathogen is not useful, as it does not have any therapeutic consequences. Colds caused by viruses are treated purely symptomatically and no special medication against the virus is given directly.
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