{"id":11448,"date":"2018-05-23T06:00:19","date_gmt":"2018-05-23T10:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/candostreet.com\/blog-parents\/?p=11448"},"modified":"2018-05-19T16:03:59","modified_gmt":"2018-05-19T20:03:59","slug":"why-do-we-get-summer-colds-and-what-can-we-do-about-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/candostreetny.com\/blog-parents\/why-do-we-get-summer-colds-and-what-can-we-do-about-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Do We get Summer Colds, and What Can We Do About Them?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Summer colds are so annoying! What causes them? How do we treat summer colds? Can Summer colds be prevented?<\/strong><\/em><\/h1>\n

\"Summer<\/p>\n

The National Institutes of Health sheds light on summer colds, what causes them and what, if anything, can be done about them.<\/p>\n

Most everyone looks forward to summer\u2014time to get away, get outside and have some fun. So what could be more unfair than catching a cold when it\u2019s warm? How can cold symptoms arise when it\u2019s not cold and flu season? Is there any way to dodge the summer sniffles?<\/p>\n

Causes of Colds<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n

Colds can be caused by more than 200 different viruses. Each can bring the sneezing, scratchy throat and runny nose that can be the first signs of a cold. The colds we catch in winter are usually triggered by the most common viral infections in humans, a group of germs called rhinoviruses. Rhinoviruses and a few other cold-causing viruses seem to survive best in cooler weather. Their numbers surge in September and begin to dwindle in May.<\/p>\n

During summer months, the viral landscape begins to shift. \u201cGenerally speaking, summer and winter colds are caused by different viruses,\u201d says Dr. Michael Pichichero, a pediatrician and infectious disease researcher at the Rochester General Hospital Research Institute in New York. \u201cWhen you talk about summer colds, you\u2019re probably talking about a non-polio enterovirus infection.\u201d<\/p>\n

Enteroviruses can infect the tissues in your nose and throat, eyes, digestive system and elsewhere. A few enteroviruses can cause polio, but vaccines have mostly eliminated these viruses from Western countries. Far more widespread are more than 60 types of non-polio enteroviruses. They\u2019re the second most common type of virus\u2014after rhinovirus\u2014that infects humans. About half of people with enterovirus infections don\u2019t get sick at all. But nationwide, enteroviruses cause an estimated 10 million to 15 million illnesses each year, usually between June and October.<\/p>\n

Enteroviruses can cause a fever that comes on suddenly. Body temperatures may range from 101 to 104 \u00b0F. Enteroviruses can also cause mild respiratory symptoms, sore throat, headache, muscle aches and gastrointestinal issues like nausea or vomiting.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll age groups can be affected, but like most viral infections, enterovirus infections predominate in childhood,\u201d says Pichichero. Adults may be protected from enterovirus infections if they\u2019ve developed\u00a0antibodies\u00a0from previous exposures. But adults can still get sick if they encounter a new type of enterovirus.<\/p>\n

Less common enteroviruses can cause other symptoms. Some can lead to conjunctivitis, or pinkeye\u2014a swelling of the outer layer of the eye and eyelid. Others can cause an illness with rash. In rare cases, enteroviruses can affect the heart or brain.<\/p>\n

How to Prevent Summer Colds<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

To prevent enterovirus infections, says Pichichero, \u201cit\u2019s all about blocking viral transmission.\u201d The viruses travel in respiratory secretions, like saliva or mucus, or in the stool of an infected person. You can become infected by direct contact. Or you might pick up the virus by touching contaminated surfaces or objects, such as a telephone, doorknob or baby\u2019s diaper. \u201cFrequent hand washing and avoiding exposure to people who are sick with fever can help prevent the spread of infection,\u201d says Pichichero.<\/p>\n

Summer colds caused, by the enteroviruses, usually don’t need treatment. These colds clear up in few days or even a week.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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