When we talk about respiratory illnesses, it’s often in the context of “cold and flu season,” typically stretching from late fall until early spring. It’s July, and you’re showing symptoms you’d expect to see in mid-winter.
Summer colds are a real thing, similar but different from their winter counterparts. True influenza tends to favor the colder months, but it’s caused by the same viruses no matter what time of year you contract it.
Distinguishing between colds, flu, and other respiratory infections can often be difficult, though knowing which you’re dealing with is essential for symptom management.
Nizar Tejani, MD, and his team have prepared a refresher on the differences between cold and flu, focusing on summertime versions. Here’s what you need to know.
First, it’s important to know that over 200 viruses cause the symptoms we know as the common cold. As many as 30% of cases may be caused by viruses that have yet to be identified.
The biggest difference between summer and winter colds is the origin of the infecting viruses. In the winter, you’re more likely to be infected by rhinoviruses, pathogens that enter your body through your nose and airways.
Summer colds more often stem from enteroviruses, pathogens that live in your digestive system. While symptoms are often similar, summer colds may include conjunctivitis, fever, and gastrointestinal symptoms.
Summer and winter colds are equally contagious, but living conditions in summer tend to limit transmission. You’re outdoors more often, not trapped in confined spaces with others in shelter from cooler temperatures, as you are in the winter.
Influenza viruses have four types, with multiple versions within each type. Because flu viruses mutate quickly, there are potentially hundreds of flu viruses, and it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly how many.
Distinguishing between cold and flu is usually possible by comparing symptoms. Both colds and flu produce symptoms like:
The primary difference is often a matter of severity. Head and body aches are usually more pronounced when you have the flu. A cough may be more insistent, dry, and hacking, while a cold tends to produce mucus more often.
The flu tends to create extreme tiredness and can last up to about 14 days. While a cold lasts about the same amount of time, it’s generally not as debilitating as the flu.
You may also have symptoms unique to the flu, including fever and chills, as well as nausea and vomiting in some cases.
In the summer, colds and other respiratory viruses can resemble the effects of influenza. We’ve already noted that enteroviruses live in the digestive system and produce digestive system symptoms.
Other conditions that may appear flu-like in the warmer months include:
Remember that spring, summer, and fall are also prime times for seasonal allergies and hayfever. Relief may be just an over-the-counter antihistamine away.
When your symptoms start to get the better of you, contact Dr. Tejani’s office to rule out illnesses other than summer cold or flu. Schedule your appointment online or by phone today.
