Summer flu: symptoms, duration and effective home remedies

A summer flu is quite annoying in the warm season. Here you can find out what symptoms it brings with it and how you can get rid of it as quickly as possible.

Summer flu: These are the symptoms

Contrary to its name, the summer flu is not a real flu, but rather a flu-like infection. Also called the common cold, it is caused by various other types of viruses instead of influenza viruses. Like the real flu, the summer flu is also transmitted by droplet infection.

The symptoms of a summer flu are similar to those of the real flu, but usually occur in a weaker form. These include, for example:

• initially scratchy throat

• sore throat and difficulty swallowing

• Cough
• Sniffles

• headache and body aches

• exhaustion
• Fever
• chills

In contrast to the real flu, the symptoms appear less suddenly, but develop gradually in the first few days of illness. From the first sign to full recovery, summer flu lasts between one and two weeks.

Treat summer flu properly

Although the summer flu is usually much weaker than a real flu, it also has to be well cured. The following tips will help:

• First and foremost, you should give your body rest. Relax as much as possible and stay in bed for a few days if possible.
• Drink a lot! It is best to drink lukewarm sage tea or chamomile tea.
• If you have a stuffy nose, flush it with salt water. See also: Make your own saline solution.

• Inhale with chamomile, salt, or essential oils to keep your mucous membranes moist.

• If you notice the first signs of a cold coming on, a cold bath can help. If it has already hit you, you should refrain from doing it, as it puts additional strain on your body.
• Very important: Eat lots of fruit and vegetables to get enough vitamins.

• Ginger strengthens the immune system. Simply pour hot water over a few slices of ginger. You can add a bit more lemon or honey.

You can find more home remedies here: Got a cold? These 6 herbal home remedies help with a cold

Prevent the summer flu

Unfortunately, you cannot protect yourself 100 percent from summer flu, but there are a few things you can do to reduce the risk of infection:

• Do not expose yourself to the blazing sun for several hours a day. The direct heat and sunlight is exhausting for your body and weakens your immune system.
• Wash hands regularly.
• Drink plenty of fluids. It is important to drink a lot, especially in summer.
• Make sure you’re getting plenty of vitamins. For this you should buy seasonal fruit and vegetables. You can find out which varieties are in season in our seasonal calendar.
• Even if it’s tempting at 30 degrees Celsius: Don’t set the air conditioning, for example in the car, too cold and don’t direct the airflow directly at your face.

Read more on Utopia:

• Flu: symptoms, duration, tips on prevention and vaccination
• Cold bath: easy do-it-yourself recipes
• Preventing a cold: How to stay healthy