[의학칼럼] Summer cold that even dogs don’t catch, you need to take care of immunity

Due to the sweltering heat and tropical nights that started in mid-June, Mr. A’s family turned on the air conditioner early. Mr. A was worried about the news that the electricity bill would go up, but she thought that it was better than eating in the heat because young children attending daycare and an elderly woman nearing eighty lived together. A few days ago, Mr. A’s throat started tickling and he started coughing, probably because he had turned on the air conditioner in the heat that continued until early July. A’s family was anxious about the news that Corona 19 is re-invasive, but in the end, the whole family was diagnosed with a sore throat and is being taken care of in the hospital.

There is an old saying that even dogs do not catch a cold in summer. But this is not true. A viral disease, the common cold, can be caused by exposure to a virus anytime, anywhere, and summer is no exception.

Especially in the summer, like Mr. A’s family, he avoids the hot outside weather and spends a long time indoors depending on air conditioning equipment such as air conditioners and fans. Failure to do so may lead to a cold.

A cold is an acute upper respiratory tract infection caused by various viruses in the nose, nasal cavity, throat, larynx, etc. In summer, sore throat, the main symptom of which is a common cold, occurs, which belongs to acute pharyngitis or laryngopharyngitis. Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, including the pharynx and larynx, caused by viruses, most often occurs when the immune system is weakened due to fatigue, overwork, or excessive temperature difference.

In the initial stage, the throat is dry, a foreign body sensation is felt, and a mild cough appears, but when the symptoms worsen, it is difficult to swallow saliva or eat food due to throat pain, and symptoms such as headache, fever, and loss of appetite appear together. If the inflammation extends to the larynx, hoarseness or pain may occur in the area under the ear.

A sore throat is a common disease, but it recurs frequently and causes great discomfort. However, since there are many types of viruses or bacteria that cause it, it is difficult to develop a vaccine, and most symptomatic treatments are symptomatic treatment rather than killing the causative pathogen.

It heals naturally over time, but the elderly, infants, and the immunocompromised may lead to complications such as otitis media, pneumonia, and rhinitis, so they should visit a medical institution for treatment. It is common for colds in summer to be neglected and not actively treated or neglected because the weather is hot and the people around them are conscious of their gaze. In this case, more caution is required because the risk of complications is greater.

Director Noh Young-jin (otolaryngologist) at Daedong Hospital Ear, Nose, and Throat Center said, “When I have a sore throat due to a cold, people often eat ice cream saying that it is okay to eat cold ice cream, but it seems to be a myth that it is relatively easy to eat because it is difficult to swallow food. “When sore throat occurs, it is better to consume a lot of lukewarm water similar to body temperature rather than too cold or hot stimulant food,” he advised.

To treat a sore throat, it is best to drink a lot of water while resting as much as possible. If the symptoms are severe, you should visit a hospital and administer medications and injections to relieve symptoms. It is also a good idea to maintain proper humidity and rinse your mouth with lukewarm water. It is especially helpful to avoid alcohol and tobacco and to eat foods that boost immunity.

It is important to keep hands and mouth clean to prevent colds in summer. Also, drink plenty of water and avoid spicy or overly cold foods. Also, avoid eating late at night and avoid using your voice excessively, such as speaking in a loud voice or speaking in a high pitched tone. Even in hot weather, you should ventilate the room regularly and don’t forget to clean the air conditioner filter.

Noh Young-jin hcs@kndaily.co.kr