Not sure if this should be here or in the Thai language section, but here goes. 

 

Can anybody explain ไข้หวัดแดด to me? I've checked the dictionary and came up with "sunny flu" and "sunlight cold", neither of which mean anything to me. What's the proper English name for this? 

Moved to the Thai Language Forum.

It means influenza (the flu) but is a term that could also be the "common cold."

 

Flu has fever + body aches and is generally worse that the common cold, usually a rhinovirus.

 

Flu can be deadly to children/infants and elderly as well to those with co-morbidities such as athsma.

The attached poster says  it all even if you don't speak Thai.

Influenza is usually ไข้หวัดใหญ่ /khây wàt yày/.

 

ไข้หวัดแดด /khâywàt dɛ̀ɛt/ refers to what is know in English as "summer 'flu", i.e. influenza occurring during the summer, so outside the normal 'flu season.

some also means fever that's developed from being exposed to the sun, ie heat stroke, which could cause influenza like symptoms like running nose and fever

Thank you jsflynn603, oxx and digbeth for the explanations. Initially I was thrown off/confused by the translation "summer" flu as I'd never heard of a summer flu before.