Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCold SeasonCausesCold StagesCold vs. AllergyTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Cold Season
Causes
Cold Stages
Cold vs. Allergy
Treatment
Prevention
Cold season in the U.S. is typically fall and winter. It starts around late August and lasts into March or April.The virus group that causes most colds, rhinoviruses, is most active in these cooler months. As the weather warms up, the second most common cause of colds—non-polio enteroviruses—becomes more active. This is why you might occasionally develop asummer cold.
Everyone experiences colds differently. However, most colds progress through five stages. Colds start with the incubation stage, when the virus enters the body and multiplies. Early symptoms, such as a scratchy throat and fatigue, typically appear within one to three days and peak a few days later. In most cases, the cold will resolve within seven to 10 days.
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What Months Can You Get a Cold?
You can get a cold any month of the year. However, when most people think of cold season, they think of fall and winter when the weather is chilly.
Colds are most common between late August to early April. That’s because rhinoviruses, the virus group responsible for the majority of colds, are most active during cooler months.
Over 200 virusescan cause the common cold, but they’re not all cold weather viruses. Some viruses, like non-polio enteroviruses, which are the second most common cause of cold, are most active in summer. These viruses cause 10 million to 15 million infections each year in the U.S.
What Are Seasonal Colds?
Why Colds Are More Common at Certain Times
Colds are more common during certain times of the year for several reasons:
The cold weather itself doesn’t make you sick. Only exposure to avirus that causes the common coldcan do that.
The Five Stages of Colds
The common cold progresses through five stages:
However, if your symptoms become significantly worse after initially improving, there’s a chance you could have a secondary infection, likesinusitisorbronchitis. See a healthcare provider if your cold symptoms are particularly severe or prolonged.
Could It Be Allergies?
Allergies, also called allergic rhinitis orhay fever, are a common experience for many people in summer due to highpollenlevels and more time spent outdoors.
Cold and allergy symptoms may be similar for some, but there are some key differences:
Many people with seasonal allergies started having symptoms from a young age. Others develop allergies later in life.
If you develop cold-like symptoms in summer that persist beyond 10 days or seem to worsen when you go outside, visit a healthcare provider for an evaluation. Your provider may refer you to an allergist to find the trigger of your symptoms.
Is It Normal to Get a Cold Every Month?Most adults get about two to three colds per year, but it’s not uncommon for people to go through periods in which they get colds much more frequently.Your immune system can become weakened for many reasons, such as having a high level of mental or physical stress, or not getting enough sleep.
Is It Normal to Get a Cold Every Month?
Most adults get about two to three colds per year, but it’s not uncommon for people to go through periods in which they get colds much more frequently.Your immune system can become weakened for many reasons, such as having a high level of mental or physical stress, or not getting enough sleep.
How to Get Rid of a Cold
There aren’t any medications you can take to get rid of a cold fast. But you can practiceself-care strategiesto help your body fight off a cold:
Take care to monitor the duration of your symptoms and see a provider if they seem to be getting worse. This is important for reducing the risk of secondary infections.
Cold Prevention
You have a lot of options forreducing your risk of getting or spreading a cold, even during cold season months:
Always consult a healthcare provider before starting a new supplement, especially if you already take other supplements or medications, or have an underlying medical condition.
Summary
Cold season in the U.S. typically lasts from late August to April, with rhinoviruses causing the majority of colds during cooler months. Non-polio enteroviruses, which are most active in warm weather, can also lead to summer colds.
Colds progress through five stages: incubation, symptom onset, peak symptoms, plateau, and recovery. Most colds last seven to 10 days. If your symptoms worsen after improving, it may indicate a secondary infection, like sinusitis or bronchitis, which requires medical attention.
12 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.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Common cold.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About non-polio enteroviruses.UC Health.Common cold.Duquesne University School of Nursing.Preventing the spread of the flu.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Non-polio enterovirus outbreaks.Ikäheimo TM, Jaakkola K, Jokelainen J, et al.A decrease in temperature and humidity precedes human rhinovirus infections in a cold climate.Viruses. 2016;8(9):244. doi:10.3390/v8090244Nemours Kids Health.Colds (for parents).American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Hay fever (rhinitis).University of Nebraska-Lincoln.Is it allergies, COVID-19 or something else? What your mucus might mean.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Common colds: protect yourself and others.University of Rochester.Care of colds and flu.Rondanelli M, Miccono A, Lamburghini S, et al.Self-care for common colds: The pivotal role of vitamin D, vitamin C, zinc, and echinacea in three main immune interactive clusters (physical barriers, innate, and adaptive immunity) involved during an episode of common colds-practical advise on dosages and the time to take these nutrients/botanicals in order to prevent or treat common colds.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018 Apr;2018(1):1-36. doi:10.1155/2018/5813095
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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.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Common cold.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About non-polio enteroviruses.UC Health.Common cold.Duquesne University School of Nursing.Preventing the spread of the flu.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Non-polio enterovirus outbreaks.Ikäheimo TM, Jaakkola K, Jokelainen J, et al.A decrease in temperature and humidity precedes human rhinovirus infections in a cold climate.Viruses. 2016;8(9):244. doi:10.3390/v8090244Nemours Kids Health.Colds (for parents).American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Hay fever (rhinitis).University of Nebraska-Lincoln.Is it allergies, COVID-19 or something else? What your mucus might mean.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Common colds: protect yourself and others.University of Rochester.Care of colds and flu.Rondanelli M, Miccono A, Lamburghini S, et al.Self-care for common colds: The pivotal role of vitamin D, vitamin C, zinc, and echinacea in three main immune interactive clusters (physical barriers, innate, and adaptive immunity) involved during an episode of common colds-practical advise on dosages and the time to take these nutrients/botanicals in order to prevent or treat common colds.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018 Apr;2018(1):1-36. doi:10.1155/2018/5813095
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.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Common cold.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About non-polio enteroviruses.UC Health.Common cold.Duquesne University School of Nursing.Preventing the spread of the flu.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Non-polio enterovirus outbreaks.Ikäheimo TM, Jaakkola K, Jokelainen J, et al.A decrease in temperature and humidity precedes human rhinovirus infections in a cold climate.Viruses. 2016;8(9):244. doi:10.3390/v8090244Nemours Kids Health.Colds (for parents).American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Hay fever (rhinitis).University of Nebraska-Lincoln.Is it allergies, COVID-19 or something else? What your mucus might mean.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Common colds: protect yourself and others.University of Rochester.Care of colds and flu.Rondanelli M, Miccono A, Lamburghini S, et al.Self-care for common colds: The pivotal role of vitamin D, vitamin C, zinc, and echinacea in three main immune interactive clusters (physical barriers, innate, and adaptive immunity) involved during an episode of common colds-practical advise on dosages and the time to take these nutrients/botanicals in order to prevent or treat common colds.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018 Apr;2018(1):1-36. doi:10.1155/2018/5813095
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