Summer flu and cold season can seem twice as awful because it takes valuable time away from summer fun. However, those symptoms can keep you down for several days if you don’t take care of yourself and work to prevent an outbreak for your family.

Hand-washing is the single most important way you can stop the spread of infection no matter what the weather. Summer time is an especially important time to keep hands clean. Summer activities keep you outside and away from soap and water and you can find yourself from one activity to another and grabbing a drink or meal on the run without washing your hands. Use hand sanitizer frequently for those times when soap and water are not available especially before eating something in the car.

Rest, fluids, and treating fever and pain remain the symptomatic  way to treat flu symptoms. In the summer months, it is easier to become dehydrated with flu symptoms so replenishing fluids by drinking water, eating popsicles, and getting plenty of rest is essential in recovery.

Picnics and grilling out can increase the chances of food becoming spoiled in the summer heat. Stomach flu symptoms can be the same as food poisoning symptoms which include vomiting and diarrhea can put a person to bed for 24 hours or more. If vomiting lasts more than 24 hours it is wise to check with your doctor to help decide if it is serious enough to need further medical treatment.

Decongestants and allergy medications can help with cold symptoms including runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, and head and chest congestion. A medication may need to be added for fever control.

Fluids, rest, and fever/pain control are still the best treatments available for a simple virus causing flu and cold symptoms. Hand-washing is still the best prevention.