{"id":13167,"date":"2020-07-27T09:00:43","date_gmt":"2020-07-27T13:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=13167"},"modified":"2025-06-03T11:22:59","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T15:22:59","slug":"summer-cold","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/summer-cold\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you catch a cold in the summer?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you think of summertime, warm weather is often the first thing that comes to mind (with vacation and relaxation following closely behind). In most years, getting sick is the last thing you\u2019re thinking about in the summer months. When a cough or the sniffles strike, it could be allergies. Or, it could be a summer cold.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you catch a cold in the summer?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Yes, a summer cold is just a common cold that you experience during a different time of year. Even though it seems unfair to be ill when the kids are out of school and your beach vacation is booked, it\u2019s possible. It just might be caused by a slightly different virus than the cold you catch in the winter months.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDifferent viruses peak at different times of the year depending on humidity and temperature,\u201d says Leann Poston, MD, a medical contributor for <\/span>Invigor Medical<\/span>. \u201cOthers have no peak and are present year-round.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While there are many causes, two common viruses are behind most colds, according to the <\/span>National Institutes of Health<\/span><\/a>, and they are most active during different times of the year:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Rhinoviruses:<\/b> These survive best in cooler temperatures, and are most prevalent from September through May.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Enteroviruses: <\/b>Non-polio enteroviruses are the second most common type after rhinoviruses. They are most active from June to October.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \u201cThere are [more than] 200 viruses that can cause a cold throughout the year,\u201d says Julia Blank<\/a>, MD, a family medicine physician at Santa Monica Family Physicians in California.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cSummer colds are more often caused by enteroviruses, while winter colds are generally due to viruses that survive better in colder weather\u2014such as rhinoviruses.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

    Both types cause respiratory symptoms like runny nose, sore throat, and congestion\u2014and most often clear up without the help of antibiotics. However, enteroviruses can also (less commonly) cause symptoms like fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, and conjunctivitis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    These potential complications could contribute to the myth that summer colds are worse than winter colds. Although it may feel worse to be stuck in bed when the sun is shining and your family is barbecuing outside, there\u2019s no evidence to suggest that summer colds are worse than winter ones. \u201c<\/span>I think they just feel worse because they are unexpected and people generally are more active in the summer and having a cold slows them down,\u201d Dr. Poston<\/a> says.<\/span><\/p>\n

    How do you catch a summer cold?<\/span><\/h3>\n

    The viruses that cause cold symptoms are contagious. They are transmitted through tiny droplets in the air that are expelled from a person\u2019s nose and mouth when they sneeze, cough, or talk.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    It\u2019s easier to catch them when you\u2019re spending a lot of time indoors with infected people, like school or the office. \u201cSummer colds are common, though less so than in winter because cold viruses spread more easily when people are packed into enclosed spaces (we\u2019re more likely to be indoors when it\u2019s cold out), also cold viruses spread more easily in cold dry air,\u201d Dr. Blank explains.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The best way to avoid getting sick (or passing the virus to others) is by covering coughs and sneezes and practicing good hand hygiene. That means handwashing with soap and water for at least 30 seconds after touching shared surfaces, like door knobs or elevator buttons. When you can\u2019t get to a sink, use hand sanitizer. And, always avoid touching your nose, mouth, and face as much as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Summer cold vs. allergies\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Summer colds and seasonal allergies have similar symptoms:<\/span><\/p>\n