Summer Cold: Symptoms And Remedies - Healthline

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Can You Get a Cold in the Summer?

Medically reviewed by Meera Patel, PA-C — Written by Adrian White and Amy McLean — Updated on September 17, 2025

Causes and symptoms
Remedies
Prevention
Summer cold vs. allergies
Takeaway

A summer cold is a common cold that can occur during the summertime. It causes symptoms such as a blocked and runny nose, sore throat, and coughing.

If you catch a cold in summer, it will be exactly like catching a cold in the winter. Even if it’s hot outside, the rhinovirus that causes common colds can spread just as easily.

Read on to learn more about getting a cold in the summer, including symptoms, causes, remedies, and more.

Causes and symptoms of a cold in the summer

Respiratory viruses that cause the common cold are present throughout the year. While colds are more common in winter, they can also happen in the summer months.

There are more than 200 respiratory viruses that cause colds. Some viruses that can cause a cold include:

rhinoviruses
enteroviruses
adenoviruses
parainfluenza viruses
human metapneumovirus

The symptoms of a summer cold are the same as those of a cold any other time of the year.

The symptoms usually develop over 2 to 3 days, and can include:

blocked nose
runny nose
sore throat
coughing
hoarse voice
tiredness
high temperature
muscle aches
facial pressure or pressure in the ears
loss of smell or taste

»Learn more:Common Cold Causes

Remedies for a cold in the summer

Many classic winter cold treatments apply to summer colds as well.

Home remedies and treatments that may help manage a cold in the summer include:

getting plenty of rest and sleep
drinking lots of water or other fluids to stay hydrated
drinking hot lemon and honey to soothe a sore throat
sitting in a bathroom with the shower running to inhale the steam
using cough drops or lozenges, only suitable for adults and children over the age of 6 years

Speak with a pharmacist for advice on medications that may help reduce symptoms of a cold.

Preventing a cold in the summer

While it may not be possible to completely prevent a cold, some steps can help reduce the likelihood.

These include:

regularly washing your hands
avoiding touching your eyes or nose
avoiding sharing towels and other personal items with other people

Covering your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze can help prevent the virus spreading to other people. If possible, avoid contact with other people when you have a cold. It is best to stay at home and rest.

»Learn more:Cold and Flu Home Remedies

Summer cold vs. allergies

It may be difficult to tell whether you have a common cold or summer allergies. However, knowing the major differences between the two can help.

You’ll have other symptoms

Colds and allergies share the traits of sneezing, runny nose, congestion, and an itchy or sore throat.

However, a cold can also include other symptoms such as a fever.

Allergies usually last longer

If symptoms persist for weeks or months, them they are more likely due to an allergy than a cold.

Symptoms change when you travel

If you travel from one region to another and symptoms improve or get worse, it’s possible that you have allergies.

This is especially the case if you travel from one place to another with vastly different pollinating plants and potential allergens.

Nasal discharge will be different

Since colds are infections, the mucus after blowing your nose will be thick and greenish or yellowish. With allergies, mucus will be translucent and usually thinner in consistency.

»Lear more:Is It an Allergy or a Cold?

The bottom line

Colds in the summer are usually the same as colds in the winter. They happen due to respiratory viruses such as rhinoviruses and enteroviruses.

Summer colds can cause symptoms such as a runny or blocked nose, sore throat, and coughing. It may be possible to tell a cold apart from an allergy as colds can cause fever and greenish or yellowish nasal discharge. Allergies are more likely to cause translucent discharge.

Home remedies such as resting and drinking plenty of fluids can help manage a summer cold. Regularly washing your hands and avoiding touching your eyes or nose may help to reduce the likelihood of developing a cold.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

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Common cold. (2024).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/common-cold/
Eccles R. (2023). Common cold.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10324571/
Facts about the common cold. (2024).https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/facts-about-the-common-cold
Infectious lung diseases. (n.d.).https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/infectious-lung-diseases
Is it a cold or an allergy? Should you call your primary care provider? (2024).https://www.chop.edu/news/health-tip/it-cold-or-allergy-should-you-call-doctor
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Nasal allergies (rhinitis). (n.d.).https://aafa.org/allergies/allergy-symptoms/rhinitis-nasal-allergy-hayfever/

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Medically reviewed by Meera Patel, PA-C — Written by Adrian White and Amy McLean — Updated on September 17, 2025

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