One of my biggest pet peeves that I see SO often in fiction, especially romance, is when people catch the flu or a cold directly from being outside in the cold or by getting rained on. It’s a myth that being cold or wet gives you an upper respiratory infection, so when characters inevitably get sick from being caught in the rain it takes me right out of the story. The amount of times this happens in books is concerning. Lol. Do that many authors not know that’s a myth? Or do they just ignore it to either get their characters naked (must shower & dry clothes immediately) or have that “take care of the sick love interest scene”? I’m just saying, those things can happen without the cold/rain mythical sickness. Okay idk why this bothers me so much but it does. 🤣
by bebeealligator
3 Comments
It’s not as ridiculous as you say. Being cold and wet is a common way to get stressed, making you more susceptible to germs in the area which you’ve previously been fighting off. It doesn’t physically “cause” the illness in a germ-theory sort of way, but it was (and is) a very common precursor to illness.
People in real life still believe this.
While weather doesn’t cause illness, rhinovirus replicates better in cooler weather. Influenza may also be most stable in cool temperatures. There are also studies that suggest that the body might not fight viruses as well if the temperature in the nose and upper airway are lowered.
Being outside in cold/wet weather and lowering your body temperature may reduce your immune response, leading to becoming ill more easily. This means that it can appear that being out in cold/wet weather can give the appearance, at least, of causing illness.
Any kind of stressor can weaken your immune system, allowing ambient pathogens (or those that are already inside you) a chance to cause an infection.
If you are heartbroken, if you miss meals, if you get in a fight, if you are scared or stressed, all of these things can create an opening.
If your body’s temperature regulation is stressed by cold, moisture, or heat, that is a very credible and relatable path for the immune system to be compromised.
In summary, I find your objection silly and overstated.