Summer flu: Be careful and always check your symptoms
For “summer flu”, many people probably know what it is only by hearing the name; it is a disease that is often encountered during extremely hot weather, especially during summer in Thailand where the temperature almost exceeds 40 degree Celsius every day. The sun can dry clothes completely, and it can cause heatstroke. After exposure to the sun, you may get a headache and summer flu. What is summer flu? Is it caused by summer? What is the cause? How to notice the symptoms yourself? Is there a way to treat and prevent it? Let's find out together.
1. What is summer flu? What is the cause?
3. Group at risk for summer flu
6. Common cold VS summer flu: Is there a difference?
1. What is summer flu? What is the cause?
Summer flu is when the body is infected with influenza and facing very hot weather and frequently changing temperatures, so the body cannot adapt to the weather conditions, causing the body to accumulate heat inside. The weather of Thailand is hot and humid (tropical zone), so the summer flu symptoms usually last long.
Causes of summer flu
The main cause of summer flu is not only the exposure to influenza and extremely hot weather, but it is also caused by sudden weather changes, such as staying in a cool place and then going out to a hot weather. It is also caused by environmental factors as well, including:
- Hot temperature
- Higher relative humidity in the air
- Being outdoors or in a place that may be exposed to heat radiation
- Little wind or ventilation
2. Symptoms of summer flu
Symptoms of summer flu are caused by heat accumulated in the body, resulting in heat in the internal organs, affecting the liver, spleen, stomach and digestive system, causing people to have the following symptoms:
- Diarrhea, indigestion
- Fatigue, dizziness, and headaches due to poor blood circulation
- Low-grade fever (body temperature not exceeding 40 degrees Celsius)
- Feeling feverish
- Dry mouth, dry throat or burning throat
- Nausea and vomiting
- Often having trouble sleeping
- A bitter feeling in the mouth, tasting foods differently, some people have anorexia
- Dry eyes, red eyes, eye pain
3. Group at risk for summer flu
The weather is extremely hot and no one wants it because of the risk of sunburn, flu and heatstroke. Yet, sometimes, it may be unavoidable because of many factors. The groups at risk for summer flu are as follows:
- People who face changing weather conditions often, from a cool room to outside which is a lot hotter
- People who have to work outdoors or work in very hot weather for a long time
- People who have been in crowded places for a long time
- People who are not physically strong enough or who are sick
- Young children under 5 years old and the elderly
- Farmers and athletes
- People with chronic diseases, such as high blood pressure or obesity
4. How to treat summer flu
Summer flu is caused by the same virus as influenza.
If you take care of yourself properly, it can be healed on its own in 2 weeks with simple self-treatment methods as follows:
- Get enough sleep, 8 hours a day. Don’t go to sleep too late.
- Regularly wipe your body to cool down inside.
- Drink lots of clean water and eat foods high in vitamin C to help prevent a cold
- Take fever reducers as needed
- Eat clean and freshly cooked food
5. How to prevent summer flu
Summer flu: If you get sick, you'll feel tired, uncomfortable, and unable to do anything. If you want to avoid the risks, we have a way to prevent summer flu for you.
- Avoid exposure to direct sunlight or avoid where the weather is extremely hot.
- If you must be in the sun, you should wear a sun protection coat or carry an umbrella with you.
- Avoid crowded places.
- Wear light colored clothing that is well ventilated.
- When facing extremely hot weather conditions, you should sit in the shade with good ventilation for a while before entering the air conditioned room so that the body can adapt to the different temperatures in time.
6. Common cold VS summer flu: Is there a difference?
Many people may be confused between the common cold and summer flu whether they are the same type of flu or not because the symptoms are fairly similar. The common cold will include symptoms of a stuffy nose, runny nose, sore throat and phlegm because it is caused by a virus and the body's immune system is not strong. For the summer flu, it is a symptom from accumulating heat, causing symptoms of fever , high body temperature, and not having much mucus. The patients don't have a cold or a sore throat, instead, they will feel a bitter taste in their mouth and have a dry throat and a burning sensation in the throat.
In this hot weather, UV rays cannot just harm our skin, it can also cause illnesses, such as headaches, summer flu and heat stroke. Don't forget to take care of yourself. If you encounter very hot weather, you should find a way to prevent and avoid it. Don't forget to boost your confidence in living life with health insurance from Muang Thai Life Assurance Enjoy life at all ages no matter it’s a common or critical illness.
No worries about medical expenses with lump sum health insurance from 200K – 100 million Baht
✅ Elite Health Plus: medical expenses up to 20-100 MB per year, medical treatment technologies and both IPD and OPD(1) with premiums less than 157 Baht per day(2).
✅ D Health Plus: medical expenses up to 5 MB(3) and standard single room fee at any hospital with premiums less than 38 Baht per day(4).
✅ Maochai Extra: For hospitalization, medical expenses up to 500K Baht(5) with premiums less than 42 Baht per day(6).
Special! Get discount up to 15% on renewal year premiums from joining activities via MTL Fit Application.
For more information
☑️ Call Tel. 1766, available 24/7
☑️ Contact life insurance agent
(1) In case of choosing Plan 40 MB, 75 MB or 100 MB
(2) For 50-year-old insured choosing Plan 20 MB with coverage area in Thailand in annual premium payment mode.
(3) In case of choosing Plan 5 MB which is a benefit per any treatment
(4) For female 34-year-old insured choosing Plan 5 MB with deductibles of 30,000 Baht per any hospitalization (topping up existing coverage) in annual premium payment mode.
(5) For Plan 3 which is a benefit per any inpatient hospitalization
(6) For female 34-year-old insured choosing Plan 3 in annual premium payment mode.
- Coverage conditions are as specified in the insurance policy.
- Health riders must be attached to an effective policy.
- Coverage period of the rider must not exceed the coverage period of the life insurance policy that this rider is attached to.
- Premium is eligible for tax deduction. Conditions are as specified by the Revenue Department.
- Conditions are as specified by Muang Thai Life Assurance PCL
- Underwriting is subject to the Company’s rules.
- Please study details of coverage, conditions and exclusions before making a decision to purchase insurance.
Sources: data retrieved on 13/03/67
🔖 Sanook