When you think of colds, you think of fall and winter, when the weather outside is cold and the kids are back at school. However, a surprising amount of colds happen in the summertime and summertime colds seem worse. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease estimates that 30-50 % of colds are caused by a virus called the rhinovirus which are most active in the spring, summer, and early fall. For many reasons the having a cold in the summer can be more challenging than having a cold in the winter.
In the summer, people are more active, taking vacations, spending time outdoors, and this can make you tired, which can weaken the immune system. Being in the air conditioning all day and night can also make you at risk for developing a summertime cold. Air conditioners dry out the air and can cause some drying of the protective mucus lining in the nose which helps stave off infection. Travel in an airplane, or any public transportation for a long period of time can also put you at risk for contracting a virus.
Allergies are prevalent in the summer months as well, so it might be hard to tell if what you have is a cold or seasonal allergy. There are a few ways to tell the difference. Generally a cold will have symptoms that start gradually. It might start with a sore throat one day, or a cough. Then the congestion will come later. A Cold usually last 7-10 days, with the worst symptoms and fatigue being 3-4 days into the cold then you will generally start to feel better. Allergies usually come on all at once-whenever you are exposed to the allergen. Your allergy symptoms will disappear when you are no longer exposed to whatever it is you are allergic to, and allergy medication can also help quickly.
Treatment of a summer cold is the same as treatment of a winter time cold, plenty of rest and fluids. Fluids are even more important in the summer months, as it can be easy to get dehydrated during the summer. It can be hard to take it easy and stay inside during the beautiful summer months, but that is the best way to treat your cold. Take heart-it should only last 7-10 days and then you should be able to enjoy your summer again!