Fever and Pain: Did You Know That 'Summer Flu' Exists?

Meet the 'Air Conditioner Cold': It affects many of us every summer anew. Its symptoms are remarkably similar to the flu we experience in winter, yet it is different and no less dangerous than the winter flu, and it is defined as 'summer flu.'

Unlike the flu we're familiar with from the cold winter days, which is caused by a seasonal virus, this type of flu, occurring mainly during the hot summer days, is caused by bacteria living in air conditioners, called "Legionella." This is also why summer flu is referred to as "Legionnaires' disease."

Though it is still relatively unknown around us, in the medical world, it has been recognized since 1976, when many fell ill with it during a convention of the American Legion, at a hotel in Philadelphia.

This disease primarily affects the respiratory system and can cause high fever, muscle aches, and pneumonia.

Since the bacterium's natural habitat is in lakes, springs, and places where water flow is natural - it is also found in air conditioners. The disease is transmitted through inhaling microscopic water droplets contaminated with the bacterium, present in the air we breathe. Additionally, it's mainly found in warm running water sources, at temperatures between 25-45 degrees, in installations such as large buildings with extensive piping systems, humidifiers, fountains, and also in spas and jacuzzis.

If you know someone who is ill with this disease and you're afraid of catching it, rest assured, as it is not a contagious illness. People cannot catch it from one another, but they can catch it from the same air conditioner (at work, in the car, or at home) or the source that caused the spread of the bacteria.

The symptoms of the disease manifest as a general feeling of unwellness, coughing, sweating, loss of appetite, chills, perspiration, and high fever. Its incubation period in the body is between 2-10 days and sometimes even reaches two weeks. The longer it persists, the more severe its symptoms become.

You can get a diagnosis for the disease through simple tests, such as a chest X-ray, urine test, and also a blood test. The treatment is antibiotic-based, and the sooner it begins, the quicker the recovery.

Incidentally, similar to it, there is also a similar flu-like disease called Pontiac fever. This disease is also caused by air conditioner droplets but does not cause pneumonia, and the body's incubation period is between 1-3 days. It affects the upper respiratory tract but usually passes without treatment for most people, except those suffering from heart diseases, smokers, and high blood pressure individuals, who require treatment to prevent deterioration.

And how can you protect your health against it? Ensure to clean the air conditioners and humidifiers in your homes, maintain a clean and flowing water supply (water that is not stagnant), and keep water temperatures below 20 degrees, or above 60 degrees.