When you think of the flu, you probably think of cold weather, warm blankets and hot soup. But what if you start feeling sick in the middle of summer? Is it possible to get the flu when it’s hot outside? The answer is yes, and it’s something doctors sometimes call the “summer flu.”
The summer flu isn’t a different kind of flu. It just means you’re dealing with flu-like symptoms during the warmer months. These symptoms are usually caused by a virus – sometimes the influenza virus, but more often other viruses like enteroviruses or adenoviruses. These viruses spread easily from person to person, especially in places like pools, summer camps or crowded travel spots like airports.
So, while flu season peaks in winter, you can still catch a virus that feels a lot like the flu when the sun is shining and temperatures are high.
What to watch for and when to seek care
The symptoms of summer flu are a lot like what you’d experience with the regular flu. They can include:
- Fever or chills
- Body aches or muscle pain
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Nausea or diarrhea (more common in kids)
It’s easy to confuse summer flu with COVID-19, a cold or even seasonal allergies. If you have symptoms that come on quickly and make you feel very tired or achy, it’s a good idea to take it seriously, especially if you’ve been around others who are sick.
Here’s when to seek care:
- If you have a high fever that doesn’t go down with medicine
- If you’re short of breath or having trouble breathing
- If you’re very weak, dizzy or can’t keep food or water down
- If symptoms last longer than a few days or get worse instead of better
For most people, rest, fluids and over-the-counter medicine like ibuprofen or acetaminophen are enough to start feeling better in a few days. But for young children, older adults or people with other health conditions, summer flu can be more serious.
If you have questions or need to talk to a doctor, many providers at Northeast Georgia Physicians Group are accepting new patients and would be happy to assist you.