Is it possible to get sick in the summer

There are more than different viruses that cause colds. In the summer months, colds are often due to non-polio enterovirus. Summer cold symptoms aren't any different than cold symptoms that can occur at any other time of the year, but the heat and humidity of the summer months can make you feel more miserable. High environmental temperatures can also cause you to sweat, increasing the risk of dehydration. 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. A summer cold is easily confused with seasonal allergies as the primary symptoms—congestion, runny nose, and sneezing—are the same.

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. 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. This can occur from direct person-to-person contact, by inhaling small droplets in the air, or by touching something that has the virus on it and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.

Viruses that cause summer colds spread more easily in crowded places. During the summer, people tend to spend more time at large gatherings like barbecues and public places. At amusement parks, for example, people stand in close proximity while waiting in line for rides, with thousands of hands touching the same railings.

Many outdoor concerts and festivals do not have free-standing bathroom facilities and most port-o-johns don't have sinks for handwashing. In addition, more people travel during the warmer weather and some modes of transportation have higher risks of virus transmission. Cruise ships, for example, are like a small city on the sea, with large numbers of people in close proximity, which makes it easier for infectious diseases to spread from person to person.

Depending on your schedule, you make travel via air more often in the summer. Airplane travel also puts you in close contact with others, increasing the risk of catching a cold. A 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 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. 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.

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.

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Madeline Kennedy. Our stories are reviewed by medical professionals to ensure you get the most accurate and useful information about your health and wellness. For more information, visit our medical review board. The most common summer cold is caused by an enterovirus, which thrives in warm weather.

Summer cold symptoms can include a runny nose, sneezing, and a fever. You can also still catch a winter cold — like the Respiratory syncytial virus — in the summer. These colds will generally clear up in a few days without treatment, but if you have concerning symptoms such as a rash or high fever then you will want to see a medical provider.

What are summer colds caused by? Symptoms associated with enterovirus infections: Enterovirus can cause a sudden high fever, mild respiratory symptoms, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, nausea and vomiting. Treating a cold if you do fall ill: There is no cure for a cold, but symptoms can be relieved by: Resting in bed! Drinking plenty of fluids! Taking acetaminophen Tylenol for a headache or fever! Using a decongestant or saline nasal spray for nasal symptoms!