Are Summer Colds Really Worse Than Winter Colds?

Symptoms may vary slightly, but the severity is similar

Adam Rosenbluth, M.D.,

AARP

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Published May 15, 2026

An illustration on a yellow background shows a group of people happily socializing and grilling outdoors, while a man wrapped in a blanket looks out sadly from a nearby window, holding a warm mug.

James Yates

Is a summer cold worse than a winter cold?

From a medical standpoint, a cold is a cold, but the season in which you get it can make a big difference in how it feels to you. So the short answer is no. A summer cold is not medically worse than a winter cold, even though it may feel that way. What’s happening is that different viruses tend to circulate at different times of the year. In the winter, most colds are caused by rhinoviruses. In the summer, we see more enteroviruses. Both cause upper respiratory tract infections, which can include a runny nose, sore throat, cough, headache and congestion. However, enteroviruses can sometimes bring a bit more fatigue, low-grade fever or body aches.

As I often tell my patients, a summer cold can last a day or two longer, with a little more fatigue, but it’s not fundamentally more serious.

Enteroviruses are also quite common. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they’re responsible for an estimated 10 million to 15 million infections each year in the United States, most often between June and October. This shows that while we associate colds with winter, there’s plenty of viral activity in the summer as well.

The reason a summer cold feels worse has more to do with circumstances than with the virus itself. In warm weather, people are more likely to be dehydrated, even mildly, and that can make symptoms like headache, congestion and fatigue more noticeable. We’re also moving between the outdoor heat and air-conditioned spaces indoors. Air-conditioning doesn’t make you sick, but the cold, dry air can irritate your airways and make symptoms feel more uncomfortable.

There’s also expectation. In the winter, people anticipate getting sick. In the summer, they don’t. When illness interferes with being outside, traveling or seeing family, it tends to stand out more and feel more disruptive. But again, from a medical standpoint, these are still routine viral infections. In other words, the viruses may change between summer and winter, but the overall impact on the body is similar.

Treatment is also the same, regardless of the season. These are both viral infections, so antibiotics won’t help and shouldn’t be used unless there’s evidence of a bacterial infection. Recovery depends on supportive care: giving your body what it needs to do its job.

That means rest. It means fluids, which are especially important in the summer. And it means using simple measures to manage symptoms: acetaminophen (Tylenol) for fever or aches, humidified air or steam to ease congestion, and saline rinses if your sinuses are bothering you. (For more advice, read my column “Can You Shorten the Length of a Cold?”)

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I would also emphasize not trying to push through it. People often feel they should keep up their usual level of activity, especially in the summer, but it doesn’t speed recovery. If anything, it can prolong symptoms. Please, allow your body to recover.

Prevention is straightforward but important. Good hand hygiene is still one of the most effective tools we have. Many of these viruses are spread by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your face. With enteroviruses in particular, transmission can occur through what we call a fecal-oral route (when traces of feces contaminate hands, food, or water and are accidentally swallowed.) which is why washing your hands before eating is essential. And staying hydrated isn’t only important when you have a cold — it can actually help prevent a cold, because being dehydrated affects mucus production, and mucus acts as a protective barrier against viruses.

If your symptoms last more than 10 days, worsen rather than improve, or include significant shortness of breath or a high fever, it’s reasonable to check in with your doctor.

More from Dr. Adam

Also remember that over the last few years we’ve seen COVID-19 summer surges, often in July and August. The coronavirus possesses many of the same symptoms as summer colds, but can be more severe in some people.

Otherwise, most colds, whether summer or winter, resolve on their own.

The takeaway? While a summer cold may feel worse, it isn’t more serious. It’s the same kind of viral illness, but it’s showing up at a time of year when you’re less prepared for it, and when you’d rather be outside having fun under the sun.

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