Cold-related sick leave nearly quadruples in Upper Austria

People taking sick leave for flu-like infections in Upper Austria have almost quadrupled since early August, despite daytime temperatures above 20C, ORF reports. Coughs, runny noses and sore throats are among the most common complaints.

Family doctor Angelika Reitböck, president of the Austrian Association of General Practitioners, said her practice in Klaus, in the Kirchdorf district, was already seeing a clear rise in seasonal infections. The start of the school year, more time spent indoors and gatherings have brought people into closer contact, giving cold viruses more opportunities to spread.

Figures from the Austrian Health Insurance Fund show that about 2,200 people in the state were on sick leave for flu-like infections in early August. By last week, the number had risen to around 8,600. Reitböck also said wide temperature swings between morning, afternoon and evening may play a role. Cold weather does not itself cause a cold, she said, but may make the body more susceptible to infection.

Reitböck recommends airing rooms regularly, especially when many people are together indoors. Anyone who becomes ill should drink plenty of fluids, get enough sleep and allow time to recover. She advises avoiding strenuous exercise, such as intensive running, while sick.