Colds, angina… winter illnesses back in the middle of summer

If you have a cold, sore throat or flu-like symptoms right now, know that you are not alone. In fact, summer is particularly cool and this causes the respiratory viruses to reappear, which are more common in autumn and winter, warns a doctor on BFM TV.

Cough, runny nose, difficulty breathing are the most common symptoms

“Runny nose, sore throat, coughing. It’s more like nasopharyngitis, rino-tracheitis, some laryngitis“, explains Yves Delerue, practitioner within the SOS Médecin network in Tourcoing in Hauts-de-France about the patients he has seen recently.

Nasopharyngitis, commonly called acute rhinitis or the common cold, is a mild viral infection of the mucous membrane that lines the inside of the nose (nasal cavity) and the pharynx, located at the back of the nasal cavity, is reminiscent of theHealth Insurance.

After an episode of nasopharyngitis, a cough, hoarse voice and difficulty breathing appear. There laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx.

Lack of sun and staying indoors boost virus circulation

This phenomenon of the return of winter viruses can be explained by several factors. First, the fact that viruses are normally neutralized by ultraviolet rays with the summer sun, which is rare at the moment.

In addition, with the bad weather, we maintain a winter way of life which favors contamination: “We will close the windows more often, ventilate less and be indoors more often. People are in a way confined and therefore, in reality, more at risk of contamination between individuals”, explains Benjamin Davidoinfectious disease specialist at the Raymon Poincaré hospital in Paris.

It is therefore advisable to find sanitary habits cool seasons such as airing well, washing your hands, sneezing into your elbow or into a disposable handkerchief or even washing your nose in the evening with sea water. The most fragile can also wear a mask in heavily frequented areas.