Summer Colds: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

While it's true that cold season is at its peak during the fall and winter, summer colds are a real thing. Colds are caused by viruses, not weather, so you can get a cold at any time of the year.

This article discusses the symptoms, causes, and treatment of summer colds.

What Is a Summer Cold?

There are more than 200 different viruses that cause colds. In the winter months, most colds are triggered by rhinoviruses, which survive best in cooler temperatures. In the summer months, colds are often due to non-polio enterovirus.

There are more than 60 types of non-polio enteroviruses. They’re the second most common type of virus that infects humans (rhinovirus being the most common). About half of people with enterovirus infections don’t have symptoms at all.

Summer Cold Symptoms

Summer cold symptoms aren't different than cold symptoms that can occur any other time of the year, but the heat and humidity of the summer months may make you feel more miserable. High outdoor temperatures can also cause you to sweat, increasing the risk of dehydration.

The most common cold symptoms include:

• Runny nose 
• Sneezing
• Cough
• Fever
• Body and muscle aches
• Mouth blisters

Of course, psychologically, your symptoms may seem even more impactful when they keep you from fun summertime activities. Colds in the wintertime are often accepted as being inevitable.

If your symptoms are much different from these, you probably have a different illness. You could have a different type of viral infection or even seasonal allergies.

Is It a Cold or Allergies?

A summer cold is easily confused with seasonal allergies as the primary symptoms—congestion, runny nose, and sneezing—are the same. But there are a few telltale differences between them.

Summer allergies, commonly known as hay fever, are typically caused by weeds, such as goldenrod, sagebrush, and tumbleweed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), less than 8% of adults and children are diagnosed with hay fever, though many people with seasonal allergies may go undiagnosed.

Causes of Summer Colds

Viruses rely on the cells of other organisms to live and replicate. They are transmitted from host to host when infected respiratory secretions make their way into the mucous membranes of a healthy person. Transmission can occur due to:

• Direct person-to-person contact, such as hugging, touching, or shaking hands
• Inhaling small droplets in the air
• Touching something that has the virus on it (like a doorknob, keys, utensils, or toys) and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes
• Changing diapers of an infected person, then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth before washing your hands
• Drinking water that has the virus in it

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:

• Public places: Examples might include public parks and swimming pools for barbecues and family get-togethers, where they are sharing food, drinks, and utensils.
• Amusement parks: People stand in close proximity while waiting in line for rides, with thousands of hands touching the same railings.
• Outdoor concerts and festivals: These venues don't usually have free-standing bathroom facilities and many portable bathrooms don't have sinks for handwashing.
• Cruise ships: More people travel during the warmer weather and cruise ships are like a small city on the sea. Large numbers of people are in close proximity, making it easier for infectious diseases to spread from person to person.
• Airplanes: Airplane travel also puts you in close contact with others, increasing the risk of catching a cold. A 2015 review of studies suggests air transportation is a major vehicle for the rapid spread and dissemination of communicable diseases, including outbreaks of serious airborne diseases aboard commercial flights.

However, the World Health Organization (WHO) maintains that there is very little risk of any communicable disease being transmitted onboard an aircraft because cabin air is carefully controlled and recirculated through high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, which trap dust particles, bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

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 Treat Summer Colds

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, and neti pots can 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, including antihistamines, decongestants, cough suppressants, and fever reducers. Identify the symptoms that are bothering you and find a medication that treats those—and only those—symptoms. You don't want medications that treat symptoms you don't have.

The summer colds caused by enteroviruses generally clear up without treatment within a few days or even a week. But talk to a health care provider if you have concerning symptoms, like a high fever (over 103 F) or a rash.

How to Prevent Summer Colds

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 non-polio enterovirus infections:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after using the toilet or changing diapers. Thoroughly dry your hands too.
• If you don't have access to soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer instead.
• Avoid close contact, such as touching and shaking hands, with people who are sick.
• Frequently clean and disinfect touched surfaces and toys.

Keep your immune system functioning at its best year-round by:

• Eating a healthy diet, including a variety of fruits and vegetables
• Staying hydrated
• Spending time outdoors
• Exercising regularly
• Getting enough sleep

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.

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.