Introduction
Everyone mostly looks forward to summer as people can get away somewhere nice, go outside, and have some fun. So it could be unfair to catch a viral infection when it is warm. It has always been a question of astonishment how viral infections like colds arise when it is not cold and flu season. People always search for ways to avoid falling sick or catching a cold during summer. Cold symptoms can be induced by more than 150 to 200 different viruses. Each can bring sneezing, sore and itchy throat, and runny nose, the first signs of a cold. The colds caught in winter are generally activated by the most everyday viral infections in humans, a batch of germs called rhinoviruses. Rhinoviruses and a few other cold-causing viruses persist best in cooler weather. Their numbers surge in winter and begin to decline in summertime. During the summer months, the viral landscape starts to shift. Different viruses cause summer colds and winter colds. When people talk about summer colds, they presumably speak about a non-polio enterovirus infection.
Enteroviruses can potentially infect the tissues in the nose and throat, eyes, digestive system, and other places. A few enteroviruses may cause polio, but vaccines have mostly eliminated these viruses from various countries. More than 60 types of non-polio enteroviruses are spread worldwide. They are the second most familiar type of virus after rhinovirus, seen infecting humans. Enteroviruses may cause a fever that suddenly arises. Body temperatures in such cases go from 101 to 104 °F. Enteroviruses can also induce mild respiratory symptoms, headache, sore throat, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal problems like nausea or vomiting. A specific type of enterovirus can also cause conjunctivitis. The viruses transmit from one person to another by respiratory secretions, like saliva or mucus, or in the stool of an infected person.
What Are the Different Types of Viral Infections Seen in Summer?
For various people, summer can be fun as this season calls for recreational camps or activities, vacations in the hill stations, and fun. Nonetheless, this season also includes summer-related disorders like sunburns, skin diseases, stroke, and sore eyes. With mercury levels rising, the chance of heat-related diseases also increases. Some common conditions for people affected in sports include heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. These conditions can potentially hamper the summer fun, and there are also many viral infections that can put a period to the summer plans.
In the following, some of the different types of viruses are mentioned, which are seen more in summer:
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Enteroviruses.
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West Nile virus.
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Chikungunya.
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Dengue.
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Chickenpox.
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Measles.
What Are Enteroviruses?
Enteroviruses are a group of viruses that induce various infections, usually only showing mild symptoms, like a common cold. However, some severe complications can set in some cases, predominantly in young children or people with weakened immune systems. Conventionally, enteroviruses were classified into four subgroups: polioviruses, coxsackievirus A, coxsackievirus B, and echoviruses.
Following are some examples of infections caused by enteroviruses:
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Common cold.
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Hand, foot, and mouth diseases.
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Viral conjunctivitis.
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Fever.
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Sore throat.
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Cough.
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Rashes on skin.
Most people infected with non-polio enteroviruses do not fall sick or may have a mild illness. Symptoms of the mild disease can include fever, runny nose, sneezing, cough, skin rash, mouth blisters, and body and muscle aches, as mentioned above.
What Is a West Nile Virus?
West Nile virus (WNV) is most continents' leading cause of mosquito-borne disease. It is most commonly transferred to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. No vaccines are yet to prevent the virus or medications to treat people. Fortunately, most people infected with this virus do not feel sick. About 1 in 4 infected people develop a fever and other symptoms. Approximately 1 out of 150 infected people produce a serious, sometimes fatal illness. People can reduce the risk of West Nile virus by using insect repellent and covering their skin with clothes as much as possible to prevent mosquito bites.
Some of the mild symptoms of the viral infection are given below:
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Headache.
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Body ache.
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Diarrhea.
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Joint pain.
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Rash.
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Nausea and Vomiting.
Some of the severe symptoms of the viral infection are given below:
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Neck stiffness.
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Stupor.
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Coma.
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Vision loss.
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Paralysis.
What Are Chikungunya and Dengue?
Chikungunya and dengue are the viruses most usually transmitted by Aedes albopictus mosquitoes and Aedes aegypti. Whoever lives in or has traveled to an area where chikungunya or dengue viruses prevail is at risk for infection. The symptoms of chikungunya are sudden high fever, headache, fatigue, rash, nausea, and red eyes. These symptoms can be treated and managed. Mild to moderate dengue fever causes a high fever and flu-like symptoms, and a severe form of dengue fever may cause serious bleeding, shock, and death. The excruciating joint pain can differentiate chikungunya from dengue, while low platelet counts can be seen in dengue.
What Are Chicken Pox and Measles?
Viruses cause both chicken pox and measles. The varicella-zoster virus yields chickenpox, while measles, also called rubeola, is induced by the measles virus. Both chickenpox and measles are highly infectious, meaning one can quickly circulate them to others. Chickenpox is spread by inhaling respiratory droplets induced when a sick person coughs or sneezes. It can also be spread by contact with contaminated surfaces or fluid from the ruptured blisters. A patient is contagious with chickenpox up to two days before the rash appears. A person remains contagious until all of the spots have encrusted over.
Measles is infectious up to four days before the rash occurs and then for four days after the rash occurs. Symptoms of chickenpox include a rash that can initially be seen on the chest, face, and back and can also spread to the rest of the body, fever, headache, and loss of appetite. Symptoms of measles comprise a rash that first starts from the forehead's hairline and then distributes downward to other parts of the body, sore throat, fever, Koplik spots, and red and inflamed eyes.
Conclusion
A few things can be done to prevent viral infections in summer, like drinking plenty of water and also increasing fluid intake can help. A person should wear clothes that cover almost all the exposed skin so that mosquito bites can be avoided. Hands should be washed properly, and if possible, wear a mask when there is an epidemic and avoid touching exposed surfaces in public places. The face should be cleaned, and the eyes should be lubricated to prevent sore eyes. Apply a mosquito repellant whenever visiting an area with mosquitoes to avoid their bite. Many steps can be taken to prevent viral infections in summer, but one should make sure to get vaccinated against some diseases to be extra cautious.
