Summer colds aren't a myth: These viruses are active until October
While rhinoviruses dominate in winter, enteroviruses are more common during warmer months and can also cause digestive issues.
While rhinoviruses dominate in winter, enteroviruses are more common during warmer months and can also cause digestive issues.
Colds are not limited to the winter months, as the viruses that cause them are present year-round. Additionally, the types of viruses we encounter more often change during the summer. According to a report from Tportal, a summer cold is not necessarily medically more severe than a winter one, although it often feels that way to us.
Dr. Adam Rosenbluth, an internal medicine physician and author of AARP's health column, explains that rhinoviruses dominate in winter, while enteroviruses are more common during the warmer months. They can cause common symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, cough, headache, and nasal congestion, but in some people, they also bring more pronounced fatigue, a mild fever, and body aches.
Enteroviruses are particularly active from June to October. In addition to respiratory symptoms, they can affect the digestive system, so along with a sore throat, fever, or headache, nausea, vomiting, or digestive upset may occur. The U.S. NIH notes that enteroviruses cause millions of infections each year, and many infected individuals have no symptoms at all.
What people sometimes call "summer flu" is often not the real flu. Dr. Irene Frantzis from Columbia University explains that the flu is relatively rare during the summer, and behind fever, sore throat, muscle aches, and digestive issues, enteroviruses, adenoviruses, COVID-19, or other infections are more often the cause.
During July and August, symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing, and congestion can easily be mistaken for seasonal allergies. Allergist Dr. Mark Aronica from the Cleveland Clinic points out that fever, body aches, nausea, vomiting, and digestive issues point more to an infection than an allergy. With allergies, itching and red, watery eyes are typical, and symptoms can last for weeks.
One of the reasons lies precisely in summer. According to Rosenbluth, in extreme heat, we are more prone to dehydration, and even a mild lack of fluids can intensify headaches, fatigue, and a stuffy nose. There's also the constant switching between extreme heat and heavily air-conditioned spaces. An air conditioner itself does not cause a cold because a virus is needed, but cold, dry air can irritate the airways and make existing symptoms worse.
There's also a psychological component: in winter, we're used to colds, but when illness prevents us from enjoying vacation activities, travel, or a perfect beach day, we perceive it as a much bigger problem.
For a common viral cold, rest and hydration are most important. It's especially important to drink enough water on hot days because the body is simultaneously losing fluids through sweating and fighting off the infection. To ease symptoms, saline nasal spray, warm drinks, honey for a sore throat and cough, and fever and pain relievers when needed can help.
Most summer colds resolve without any special intervention. However, if a high fever, rash, difficulty breathing, worsening symptoms, or an unusually long duration of illness occur, you should see a doctor.
