With a cold head: doctors called a "dangerous" disease without fever banal ARVI
The "silent virus", which Russians wrote about en masse on social networks, turned out to be a common acute respiratory viral infection, doctors told the editorial board. A seasonal increase in the incidence of respiratory infections has begun in Russia, with rhinoviruses, adenoviruses and coronaviruses now circulating. At the same time, the flu practically does not occur. Most of these diseases go away without fever, but the absence of heat can create a false feeling that the disease is easy and does not require treatment. How to distinguish an ordinary infection from a dangerous condition and when to consult a doctor — in the "Izvestia" material.
What kind of virus is circulating in Russia
Recently, Russians have been complaining en masse about an "unusual cold", which, according to them, differs from the usual acute respiratory viral infections or flu. The disease occurs without fever, accompanied by severe sore throat, dry cough and weakness.
"This is an abnormal cold. It started very abruptly, my throat was sore, and I couldn't sleep the first night. My lungs feel like they're coughing up glass. The temperature is either 36.6 or 37. I haven't climbed higher, but my condition feels like it's been holding up for 39 weeks," wrote Tatiana from St. Petersburg.
Another resident of the Northern Capital, Anna, said that her voice had abruptly disappeared and she had a dry cough for two weeks. Her husband and children experienced similar symptoms.
"I've just had a sore throat for two weeks, and nothing's been working," Alexander complained from Moscow. — They prescribed antibiotics, to no avail. No fever, runny nose either..."
In social networks, the disease was dubbed the cold cold,
or a silent virus.
""Many respiratory diseases can occur without fever, especially if the infection remains at the level of the nasal and throat mucous membranes or a person has immunity to a similar pathogen," Albert Rizvanov, head of the Center for Excellence "Personalized Medicine" at Kazan Federal University, told Izvestia.
"The absence of fever does not mean that a new virus has appeared,— he stressed. — Fever is caused not by the virus itself, but by the human immune system. During inflammation, signaling molecules are released that affect the thermoregulation center in the brain.
If this systemic inflammatory response is mild, the temperature may remain normal, although runny nose, sore throat, cough and weakness will be quite noticeable, the expert noted.
"So far, there is no convincing evidence of any new respiratory virus circulating in Russia," Albert Rizvanov believes. — The absence of fever by itself does not make the infection either more or less dangerous. Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, pronounced weakness, chest pain and other signs of severe course should be alarming.
Moreover, a patient with acute respiratory viral infections can be contagious even at a completely normal temperature, he said.
""The symptoms reported on social networks are not related to a "new terrible virus," but to the seasonal circulation of well-known pathogens: rhinoviruses, adenoviruses and coronaviruses of the FLiRT group," molecular biologist Arina Kholkina told Izvestia.
"In 2026, the seasonal wave is associated with a change in the dominant pathogens — there is almost no flu, but non—influenza viruses are actively circulating," she explained.
Severe sore throat, dry cough, weakness and lack of fever can occur with various respiratory infections, Natalia Miropolskaya, associate professor of Polyclinic and Social Pediatrics at the Pirogov University Department of Pediatrics, told "Izvestia".
— It is also impossible to distinguish, for example, COVID-19 from the flu by symptoms: this requires laboratory testing, she said. — Therefore, it is premature to talk about the spread of a new virus or strain, such conclusions can only be drawn based on the results of epidemiological and laboratory monitoring.
Fever is one of the possible responses of the immune system to infection, but it does not always occur. The severity of fever, according to the doctor, depends on the specific pathogen, the number of viral particles, the characteristics of the immune response and the condition of the person himself.
— The main mistake is to focus solely on the readings of the thermometer, — said Natalia Miropolskaya. — If a person feels pronounced weakness, it is difficult for him to perform normal physical activity, his cough or sore throat increases, the body needs rest and enough fluids.
What is the danger of a cold without fever?
The absence of fever during colds is a manifestation of immune memory after infections or vaccination, Arina Kholkina said.
"The immune system recognizes the pathogen and restrains it in the upper respiratory tract, preventing general inflammation with fever," the biologist explained. "A local "battle" in the throat can be very painful, hence the feeling of "broken glass" and the appearance of severe lethargy.
However, the absence of fever in itself does not mean that the disease is mild, the expert warned.
"The danger lies in additional infection,— Arina Kholkina said. — The mucosa damaged by the virus becomes vulnerable to bacterial complications, such as streptococcus. If you skip the moment, a common cold can turn into a purulent sore throat with complications on the heart and kidneys.
In addition, according to the expert, many patients feel "not sick enough" if they do not have a fever, and carry an infection on their legs, remaining contagious to others.
Respiratory infections very often occur without fever, confirmed by "Invitro" infectious diseases doctor Andrey Pozdnyakov.
"However, most of these cases remain unaccounted for," he said. — If a person does not have a high fever, he is unlikely to go to the doctor. Sore throat and runny nose without fever can occur in patients with coronavirus or respiratory infections. Chlamydia and mycoplasma respiratory infections can occur in the same way, but with a predominance of cough.
Most respiratory infections end in recovery, but sometimes sinusitis, otitis media, bronchitis or pneumonia develop, said Svetlana Kanevskaya, MD, Deputy Chief Physician of the "K+31" clinic network for Internal Medicine and longevity medicine.
"Infection can cause an exacerbation of bronchial asthma, heart failure and other diseases," the doctor warned. — It is undesirable to have a cold on your feet. By continuing to work or train intensively, a person infects others, does not rest enough and may not notice the deterioration in time.
If you have chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, or unusual exercise intolerance, you should seek medical help, she said.
Where the incidence is growing
It is now the season of acute respiratory viral infections, which cause many different pathogens, including a large number of varieties of viruses. They can cause both a runny nose and sore throat, that is, rhinopharyngitis, explained "Izvestia" associate professor of RUDN University Sergey Voznesensky.
— If there is no fever, it may mean that the pathogen does not have a large number of toxins that cause intoxication syndrome. Or a person has a good immune system. He doesn't need to spur himself to put the body in a state of fighting the disease and attract pro—inflammatory cytokines," the specialist said.
The seasonal surge of acute respiratory viral infections began in Russia in the second decade of September, Rospotrebnadzor reported. So, in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug, according to the regional department of the department, the incidence increased by 86% in a week — 82 cases of acute respiratory viral infections per 10 thousand were detected in the region. the population.
From September 7 to September 13, over 1,400 cases were recorded in the Penza region, which is 71% more than in the previous week. In Yakutia, the incidence has doubled. According to the regional Ministry of Health, during this period, about 7.2 thousand people with symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections turned to doctors — 74% of cases were caused by rhinovirus.
"With the onset of cold weather, the same pattern is observed: first comes a wave of respiratory viruses, parainfluenza, adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, and then it is replaced by influenza," said Snezhana Sleptsova, chief freelance specialist in infectious diseases in adults at the Ministry of Health of Yakutia.
The incidence has also increased in the Saratov region. Denis Greifer, Deputy Minister of Health of the region, said during a briefing that the number of patients increased by 63% in a week. The epidemiological situation has become noticeably more complicated in the Ulyanovsk, Smolensk, Vladimir, Omsk, Kemerovo regions, Stavropol Territory, Altai and the Jewish Autonomous Region.
According to doctors, the autumn-winter period often becomes a serious challenge for the immune system. The most severe of the respiratory viruses, influenza, is dangerous with a high incidence of complications, including kidney damage, pneumonia, and exacerbation of chronic diseases.
— Annual flu vaccination remains the main preventive measure, — Svetlana Kanevskaya noted. — It does not protect against all acute respiratory infections, but it reduces the likelihood of severe flu and its complications.
To prevent acute respiratory viral infections and influenza, it is necessary to observe hand hygiene, wear masks in crowded enclosed spaces, and if symptoms appear, avoid visiting public places and give the body time to recover, the doctor concluded.
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