Is It a Summer Cold or COVID-19? Here’s What Doctors Want You to Keep in Mind
At this point, it’s easy to assume you have COVID-19 if you suddenly develop symptoms like a sore throat, runny nose, and cough. But summer colds can and do happen—and infectious disease experts think we might see more of them this year.
That’s because the country is opening back up and we’re starting to see people in our day-to-day lives again. “Obviously when people interact, you’re going to see respiratory virus transmission—I’ve already seen it,” says infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “There is a hypothesis that, because people’s immune systems haven’t been exposed to certain viruses in a while, we might see a bigger uptick in summer colds. That remains to be seen.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also issued a health advisory, warning doctors that there has been an increase in cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes cold-like symptoms, across the southern U.S.
Here’s what you need to know about summer cold symptoms, how they differ from signs of COVID-19, and what to do if you start feeling a bit crummy.
What causes summer colds?
Most people get colds in the winter and spring, and a summer cold happens for the same reason: A person comes into contact with another person who is sick, says Richard Watkins, M.D., an infectious disease physician and professor of internal medicine at the Northeast Ohio Medical University.
The most common viruses that cause the common cold—coronaviruses (yes, beyond SARS-CoV-2), rhinoviruses, and RSV—don’t just magically disappear when the weather warms up. “Viruses circulate year-round,” Dr. Adalja says. “It’s just that some accelerate during certain periods and decelerate during others. That doesn’t mean they go down to zero.”
He points out that the seasons are also different in other hemispheres—Australia has its winter when the U.S. has its summer, for example—and travelers can bring certain viruses back home with them.
What are the symptoms of a summer cold?
The symptoms of a summer cold are the same as they are for a cold any other time of year. Per the CDC, those include:
Sore throat
Runny nose
Coughing
Sneezing
Headaches
Body aches
Most people with summer colds recover in seven to 10 days, but some people with weakened immune systems, asthma, or respiratory conditions may develop complications like bronchitis or pneumonia, the CDC says.
Summer cold vs. COVID-19: How can you tell the difference?
The signs of COVID-19 and a cold are incredibly similar and “very difficult to differentiate,” Dr. Watkins says. COVID-19 also presents with a wide range of symptoms, some of which aren’t even included on the CDC’s official list. Even peculiar effects, like a loss of taste or smell, can occur with the common cold.
Dr. Adalja says there’s currently “no reliable way” to tell the two illnesses apart without getting tested for COVID-19, which should thankfully be much easier now that hospitals and doctors’ offices aren’t as overwhelmed. “If you had all the symptoms of a common cold, I’d still test you for COVID-19,” he says.
It’s more likely that you have a summer cold instead of COVID-19 if you develop symptoms after you’ve been fully vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, but Dr. Adalja still recommends getting tested and practicing social distancing or wearing a face mask until you know for sure, just in case.
How to treat a summer cold
While a summer cold usually isn’t serious, it can make you a bit achy and tired, which can be annoying to deal with. Unfortunately, you’ll likely have to let those symptoms ride out by getting lots of rest, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking OTC pain relievers to make you feel more comfortable.
To lower your risk of contracting a summer cold in the first place, follow the crucial COVID-19 prevention measures you’ve been doing for the past year:
Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. The viruses that cause the common cold and COVID-19 can infect you this way.
Do your best to avoid people who are visibly sick. Sick people can transmit infected respiratory droplets via coughing or sneezing when in close contact.
Bottom line: If you happen to develop the symptoms of a cold this summer, call your doctor—it’s better to be sure and breathe a sigh of relief when it’s good news.
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