Beware of THESE 6 symptoms typical to winter illnesses

Deep into the official winter month, the National Capital finally witnesses a piercing cold wave accompanied by some dense fog. While it sure does feel like a breath of fresh air, there's no telling when you might contract infectious viruses and bacteria.

Having said that, winter can be a challenging time for your body. Common winter illnesses are not only very common during the winter months, but they can be hard to tell apart. Some of the most common being common cold, flu infections, RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) in kids, croup, strep throat and stomach flu.

So here are some typical symptoms you may experience in the cold, winter season.

Also read: COVID outbreak in China: Expert predicts more than 60% population will be infected in China over the next 90 days

Fever can be a common symptom during the winter season. It can make you feel hot and sweaty and can sometimes even lead to chills. However, you usually don't get a fever with a cold. If you do, it could most probably be the flu or an infection with a bacteria.

Also read: COVID symptom you get depends on the type of vaccine you've received: Study

Sore throats, medically termed as pharyngitis, is also a common winter ailment typically caused by infections like the common cold, flu and strep throat. It is characterized by pain, scratchiness or irritation of the throat that often worsens when you swallow, explains the Mayo Clinic. With the emergence of the Omicron variant, sore, 'scratchy' throat also became one of the top symptoms of COVID-19.

The dry air in the winters can take a toll on your nasal linings, pushing the nasal glands to produce excess mucus. Additionally, cold viruses and allergens such as dust and pollen may irritate the nose and the sinuses, following which your nose starts to make a lot of clear mucus. Furthermore, some people have runny noses for now clear reason. This could be due to a condition called nonallergic rhinitis or vasomotor rhinitis.

Colds, flu and other respiratory illnesses can be more common in colder months. Besides feeling cold, experiencing sore throat and having a runny nose, one may even feel tired and weak. Especially with a flu infection, it can be extremely common to feel tired and weak for two weeks or longer.

Cough in winter can be due to various reasons - common cold and flu being the main culprits. However, dry coughs can be indicative of the cold air and changes in temperature. Both of these reasons are associated with the winter season.

When you have the flu, a common cold, a virus or a bacterial infection, you're likely to experience body and muscle ache. This could be because your immune system jumps into action. The immune responses that help fight off the infections cause inflammation in the body. Hence leading to aches and pains in the muscles.