Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCold VirusesSymptomsTransmissionTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Cold Viruses
Symptoms
Transmission
Treatment
Prevention
Colds may be less expected in summer, but they’re not unusual. That said, colds don’t usually cause symptoms like loss of taste or smell or difficulty breathing. If you develop these symptoms or your symptoms seem severe, you might be dealing with aCOVID infectioninstead and should consider getting tested.
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What Causes Colds in Summer?
There are more than 200 different viruses that cause colds. The most common group of viruses that infect humans and cause colds are rhinoviruses. While rhinoviruses survive best in cooler temperatures, they can still circulate and cause colds in summer.
Although colds are usually associated with fall and winter, summer colds are not rare. Catching a summer cold doesn’t mean something is wrong with your immune system. Enterovirus infections can occur at any age. Though, like most viral infections, they are most prevalent in childhood.
How Long Do Summer Colds Last?Just like winter colds, you can expect your summer cold to last about seven to 10 days. The exact duration depends on individual factors like your immune system, overall health, and how well youtake care of yourselfwith rest and hydration.
How Long Do Summer Colds Last?
Just like winter colds, you can expect your summer cold to last about seven to 10 days. The exact duration depends on individual factors like your immune system, overall health, and how well youtake care of yourselfwith rest and hydration.
Summer Cold vs. COVID Symptoms
Like most other respiratory illnesses, COVID is most common in cooler months. However, just like the common cold, you can also get a COVID infection in summer.
This chart helps explain the differences in symptoms between colds and COVID:
How It’s Spread
Viruses rely on the cells of other organisms to live and replicate. They aretransmitted from host to hostwhen infected respiratory secretions make their way into the mucous membranes of a healthy person. Transmission can occur due to:
Viruses that cause summer colds spread more easily in crowded places. During the summer, people tend to spend more time at large gatherings such as:
Air conditioning may also contribute to summer colds. In general,viruses spread more easily in cold, dry air.Air conditioners reduce humidity in the room along with making it cooler, setting up conditions where viruses can thrive.
How to Make a Summer Cold Go Away
The treatment for a summer cold is the same as a cold any other time of year. While there is no cure for the common cold, getting plenty of rest and keeping hydrated can help you feel better sooner.
Humidifiers,saline nasal spray, andneti potscan provide effective, natural relief.It is also important to drink extra water when you have a summer cold, especially if you have been in the heat and sweating. Staying hydrated can help thin mucous, making it easier to expel.
Over-the-counter medications can also help to relieve symptoms. These include antihistamines, decongestants, cough suppressants, and fever reducers. Identify the symptoms that are bothering you and find a medication that specifically treats those.
Some Cold Medications Shouldn’t Be CombinedTake care to avoid combining drugs that contain the same active ingredients. Taking more than one medication that containsacetaminophen, for example, can harm the liver. If you have high blood pressure or take blood pressure medication, avoiddecongestantswith pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine. Always check labels carefully and consult a healthcare provider if you are unsure.
Some Cold Medications Shouldn’t Be Combined
Take care to avoid combining drugs that contain the same active ingredients. Taking more than one medication that containsacetaminophen, for example, can harm the liver. If you have high blood pressure or take blood pressure medication, avoiddecongestantswith pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine. Always check labels carefully and consult a healthcare provider if you are unsure.
Preventing colds is always the preferred option. Although it’s not always possible, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and others from cold-causing viruses:
Summary
Summer colds are often due to non-polio enterovirus. Symptoms are similar to colds at other times of the year. Although allergies and summer colds have some similar symptoms (runny nose, sneezing, and congestion), there are a few distinguishing cold symptoms: aches and pains, cough, and fever. Most colds last seven to 10 days.
While there is no cure for the common cold, getting plenty of rest, keeping hydrated, and using OTC medications may help you feel better sooner. Washing your hands regularly, avoiding close contact with sick people, and disinfecting surfaces can help reduce the chances of getting a summer cold.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institutes of Health.Catching a cold when it’s warm: what’s the deal with summertime sniffles?.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage common cold.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 can surge throughout the year.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About non-polio enteroviruses.Kak V.Infections on cruise ships.Microbiol Spectr. 2015;3(4). doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.IOL5-0007-2015Mangili A, Vindenes T, Gendreau M.Infectious risks of air travel.Microbiol Spectr. 2015;3(5). doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.IOL5-0009-2015Noti JD, Blachere FM, Mcmillen CM, et al.High humidity leads to loss of infectious influenza virus from simulated coughs.PLoS ONE. 2013;8(2):e57485. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0057485Allan GM, Arroll B.Prevention and treatment of the common cold: making sense of the evidence.CMAJ. 2014;186(3):190-9. doi:10.1503/cmaj.121442Stamford Health.Fevers in adults, children, and toddlers: When to worry.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About Handwashing.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institutes of Health.Catching a cold when it’s warm: what’s the deal with summertime sniffles?.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage common cold.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 can surge throughout the year.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About non-polio enteroviruses.Kak V.Infections on cruise ships.Microbiol Spectr. 2015;3(4). doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.IOL5-0007-2015Mangili A, Vindenes T, Gendreau M.Infectious risks of air travel.Microbiol Spectr. 2015;3(5). doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.IOL5-0009-2015Noti JD, Blachere FM, Mcmillen CM, et al.High humidity leads to loss of infectious influenza virus from simulated coughs.PLoS ONE. 2013;8(2):e57485. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0057485Allan GM, Arroll B.Prevention and treatment of the common cold: making sense of the evidence.CMAJ. 2014;186(3):190-9. doi:10.1503/cmaj.121442Stamford Health.Fevers in adults, children, and toddlers: When to worry.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About Handwashing.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institutes of Health.Catching a cold when it’s warm: what’s the deal with summertime sniffles?.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage common cold.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 can surge throughout the year.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About non-polio enteroviruses.Kak V.Infections on cruise ships.Microbiol Spectr. 2015;3(4). doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.IOL5-0007-2015Mangili A, Vindenes T, Gendreau M.Infectious risks of air travel.Microbiol Spectr. 2015;3(5). doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.IOL5-0009-2015Noti JD, Blachere FM, Mcmillen CM, et al.High humidity leads to loss of infectious influenza virus from simulated coughs.PLoS ONE. 2013;8(2):e57485. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0057485Allan GM, Arroll B.Prevention and treatment of the common cold: making sense of the evidence.CMAJ. 2014;186(3):190-9. doi:10.1503/cmaj.121442Stamford Health.Fevers in adults, children, and toddlers: When to worry.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About Handwashing.
National Institutes of Health.Catching a cold when it’s warm: what’s the deal with summertime sniffles?.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage common cold.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 can surge throughout the year.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About non-polio enteroviruses.
Kak V.Infections on cruise ships.Microbiol Spectr. 2015;3(4). doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.IOL5-0007-2015
Mangili A, Vindenes T, Gendreau M.Infectious risks of air travel.Microbiol Spectr. 2015;3(5). doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.IOL5-0009-2015
Noti JD, Blachere FM, Mcmillen CM, et al.High humidity leads to loss of infectious influenza virus from simulated coughs.PLoS ONE. 2013;8(2):e57485. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0057485
Allan GM, Arroll B.Prevention and treatment of the common cold: making sense of the evidence.CMAJ. 2014;186(3):190-9. doi:10.1503/cmaj.121442
Stamford Health.Fevers in adults, children, and toddlers: When to worry.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About Handwashing.
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