Summer flu - causes, naturopathy and treatment

The contagious summer flu is a flu infection

A summer flu is usually no "real flu" (influenza), but is similar in symptoms to the winter flu-like infection. The difference is in the causative agents. Every virus needs a specific habitat in order to exist. This is different in summer than in winter. Coxsackie, Entero and echoviruses are responsible for the summer disease, and rhino and coronaviruses are responsible for the winter infection. The pathogens are mainly transmitted by droplets (coughing, annealing) and smear infection (contaminated objects such as doorknobs).

contents

• The contagious summer flu is a flu infection
• A short overview
• Influenza - The real flu
• Symptoms of summer flu
• Typical triggers
• prevention
• Naturopathy in summer flu
• treatment

A short overview

• pathogen: The summer flu is caused by viruses that are often of the coxsackie, entero or echo type. These are transferred by droplet or smear infection to other hosts.
• symptomsSymptoms are flu-like, including headache, runny nose, cough, sore throat, occasionally fever and gastrointestinal discomfort.
• treatment: In most cases, the symptoms of summer flu lessen after a few days. Bed rest and home remedies can aid in the healing process. If the symptoms do not subside or the fever rises above 39 degrees, a doctor should be consulted.
• prevention: A good immune system helps to fight off the pathogens. Healthy diet and regular exercise strengthen the immune system. Also, hygiene, especially regular hand washing, can prevent the viruses from invading the organism.

Influenza - The real flu

A "real flu" is triggered by influenza viruses. These are also transferable by droplet infections, but also by contaminated objects (smear infection). When the flu breaks out, it usually happens suddenly and violently, almost out of nothing. Possible symptoms are:

• Sudden onset of chills,
• strong feeling of weakness,
• massive body aches,
• a headache,
• fever.

A summer girp is hardly distinguishable in its symptoms from a true influenza infection. (Image: Gina Sanders / fotolia.com)

Influenza should be treated by a doctor

With a quick test, the influenza can be diagnosed and so distinguished from a summer flu. An influenza belongs in the hands of the doctor and can be treated with special anti-viral medications if necessary. For a "real flu" bed rest is essential.

Symptoms of summer flu

Keeping the bed in summer is not a pleasant thing here, but it's important to get a grip on the infection. As a rule, the summer cold is over after a few days. The symptoms are very similar to those of the winter variant. This includes:

• a headache,
• sniff,
• to cough,
• Sore throat,
• earache,
• possibly fever,
• Disorders of the digestive tract such as diarrhea, abdominal pain and nausea and vomiting.

Typical triggers

As the name suggests, the summer flu takes place mainly in summer. Precisely because the viruses are comfortable with warm temperatures and high air humidity and multiply rapidly, the risk of infection is very high where many people are in summer. This is the case, for example, in the open air pool, at festivals, but also in public transport. Here, the transmitted by droplet transfer viruses are spread quickly. Likewise, these adhere to doorknobs, stair railings and handles on public transport. Even shared dishes can lead to infection.

Even on warm summer days you can catch a flu infection. However, the underlying pathogens differ from those of a winter infection. (Image: Rosalie P./fotolia.com)

Even in the summer you can catch a cold

In the summer climate you do not think about colds. Nevertheless, it is possible to catch an infection in the warm season. The air conditioning in the car, train or plane, wet clothes, which is not changed after bathing, drafts, too much sun - all this can cause a flu infection. Stress, climatic conditions, smoking and alcohol can also adversely affect the immune system and thus facilitate the infection.

A weakened immune system favors a disease

Drafts, wet swimwear and too long sunbathing sometimes overwhelm the immune system. Temperature differences between the heat outside and down cooled rooms should be avoided or at least compensated by suitable clothing. Often the evenings are a bit cool even in summer. Think of a light summer pullover or cardigan. In the car should be taken to ensure that the air conditioning is not set too cold. More than eight degrees difference to the outside temperature are clearly too much. The best is two to three degrees difference.

prevention

The best protection is provided by a good, intact immune system and sufficient hygiene. Thus, regular hand washing can contribute to the fact that pathogens on the hands do not enter the organism. A healthy defense, in which the viruses can not overcome the mucosal barrier in the mouth and throat, usually protects against the unpleasant summer flu.

Healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables is conducive to a strong immune system. (Image: marilyn barbone / fotolia.com)

Take plenty of fluids - but not too cold

Sufficient hydration is very important to keep the mucous membranes moist at all times. Drafts dry them out and make them more sensitive and more receptive to pathogens. Under no circumstances drinks should be eaten ice cold. Better and healthier are lukewarm tea or water, which was not stored in the fridge.

Strengthen the immune system with fruits and vegetables

A healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, adequate hydration in the form of still water, possibly fortified with a little lemon or ginger, are good preventive measures as they strengthen the immune system. The preventive vitamin C is mainly in:

• peppers,
• broccoli,
• Brussels sprouts,
• blackcurrants,
• Buckthorn berries,
• Kiwis,
• citrus fruits.

Regular exercise in the morning or evening

At least 30 minutes of daily exercise in the fresh air strengthen the immune system and should be done in the summer in the cooler mornings or evenings in the evening, when the temperatures are not as high or have already fallen a bit.

Naturopathy in summer flu

From the natural healing of colds come recommendations, such as the curative intake of an echinacea (sun hat) preparation, the self-blood therapy or Kneipp's applications such as hydrotherapy. Also helpful is colostrum, which is taken over a longer period of time, quite strengthening the immune system. The sucking of cystust tablets also promotes the body's defenses and has proven itself, for example, if you spend more time in crowds. In addition, the tablets help with sore throat.

Echinacea preparations have proven themselves for naturopathic support in the healing process of a summer flu. (Image: Floydine / fotolia.com)

treatment

The treatment does not necessarily require conventional medical therapy. Frequently, naturopathic preparations and home remedies for flu. However, if there is no improvement after three days or if there is a fever that exceeds 39 degrees Celsius, it is necessary to go to the doctor.

Rest is required

In any case, calm is announced. The more time-off the sufferer treats, the faster the flu-like infection can heal. Also, think of enough liquid, in the form of tea or still water. Although the summer flu usually takes place when the temperatures are high, drafts and cold feet should still be avoided.

Treatment of sore throat

Typical home remedies for sore throat are lozenges with sage, gargle with sage tea or a glass of water with a drop of tea tree oil in it. The sharpness of a ginger tea helps on the one hand against the throat problems, on the other hand it also has a stimulating effect on the immune system. Furthermore, lemon or quark wrap can relieve sore throat.

Camomile infusion to inhale. (Image: Sonja Birkelbach / fotolia)

Cold treatment

Inhaling with sea salt or Himalayan salt, which is carried out two to three times a day, has proven to be a home remedy for cold. In addition, the nasal mucosa should be moistened with a suitable nasal spray based on sea salt. Even in case of cold, homeopathy knows many suitable remedies that can be used almost without side effects.

Treatment of coughing

Quark coughs and cough syrup, which contain thyme, primrose root or ivy leaves, help with coughing. Special cough mixtures support coughing up. Homemade onion syrup is recommended as a home remedy for cough. If all else fails, the drug acetylcysteine, known as ACC, may be the drug of choice from the pharmacy.

Fever treatment

If the fever stays below 39 degrees Celsius and the affected people otherwise feel halfway well, calf wrapping can be used to get it under control. In addition, antipyretic drugs from the pharmacy help.

Help with gastrointestinal complaints

If the disease is accompanied by gastrointestinal complaints, sufficient hydration is particularly important. In addition, a one-day food course is advised, especially if diarrhea and vomiting accompany the disease. Thereafter, as long as it is given light food until the stomach and intestines have recovered. If diarrhea and / or vomiting persists for more than two days, a doctor should be consulted. As a light diet are:

• zwieback,
• gruel,
• carrot soup,
• Teas, such as black tea, chamomile, anise and fennel.

Rusk and tea are the classics for stomach and intestinal complaints. (Image: oxie99 / fotolia.com)

When should a doctor be consulted??

If naturopathic methods and home remedies do not help with treatment, general medical assistance should be sought. Elderly patients or those already suffering from chronic diseases belong to experienced medical hands. Even with small children is not too long to decide on their own initiative, especially if the little ones have high fever for several days and / or are very weakened.

Intensive course of illness

The triggers for flu are viruses. However, due to a so-called superinfection with bacteria, an antibiotic may be needed. In this form of infection, the immune system was already so weakened by the virus that other pathogens such as bacteria had free rein and could also penetrate into the body.

If you want to be healthy quickly, you have to take it back

Although the symptoms of summer and winter flu are not so different, those affected will often recover faster in winter than in summer. This is usually because the sick in the colder months rather go to bed, rest and also keep warm by appropriate clothing. In summer, on the other hand, man is rather reckless. The sun is shining, outside there are temperatures where patients prefer to dress rather than dress. In a summer flu but also rest and appropriate clothing is necessary to cure the cold and especially not immediately to get sick again. (sw, vb updated on May 23, 2018)
Specialist supervision: Barbara Schindewolf-Lensch (doctor)