Is a cold easily contagious in summer?

Written by Wang Chun Mei

Pulmonology

Updated on June 28, 2025

00:00

00:00

First and foremost, it is important to clarify that colds can occur in any season, including summer. Whether a summer cold is contagious depends mainly on the type of pathogen involved. If the cold is caused by a viral infection, it is likely to be contagious, often spread through respiratory droplets, such as certain types of influenza and common viral infections, which are somewhat contagious.

As for summer colds, if they are caused by a common bacterial infection, they generally are not contagious. Therefore, depending on the type of cold and the pathogens that cause it, without knowing, it is essential to take personal precautions to prevent transmission to people with weakened immune systems. Hence, it is advisable to frequently ventilate your home, drink plenty of water, and eat fresh vegetables and fruits.

Other Voices

home-news-image

Written by Li Jian Wu

Pulmonology

31sec

home-news-image

How to reduce a fever when having a cold and headache

Symptoms of a cold such as headache and fever can be treated by applying a cool towel or ice pack to the forehead, or by taking antipyretic analgesic drugs to alleviate the fever. Options include acetaminophen, naproxen, or sodium diclofenac, all of which effectively ease symptoms caused by a cold like headaches and fever. Additionally, drinking more ginger sugar water and using warm water or alcohol to wipe down the palms, soles, neck, and chest can help reduce fever physically.

home-news-image

Written by Han Shun Li

Pulmonology

45sec

home-news-image

What fruit cures a cold?

Colds are caused by viral infections, often causing symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, cough, headache, and fever. So, is there any fruit that can cure a cold? We know that there is currently no particularly effective treatment for colds, so it is unrealistic to treat colds with fruit. The current treatment methods for colds mainly involve symptomatic treatment medications, such as compound cold medicines, antipyretic analgesics, and some traditional Chinese medicines to alleviate symptoms. In addition, it is important to rest, avoid cold exposure, drink plenty of water, quit smoking, and ensure room ventilation, which is beneficial for the recovery from a cold.

home-news-image

Written by Zhang Xian Hua

Pediatrics

1min 9sec

home-news-image

What to do if a baby catches a cold?

The baby has caught a cold. Considering that the baby’s organs are not fully developed and their immune response is weak, even a common cold can easily lead to new viral infections or bacterial infections, raising the possibility of severe diseases such as pneumonia. Therefore, when a baby has a cold, it is best to take them to the hospital’s pediatric outpatient clinic for a timely examination and assessment, and to receive active treatment based on the cause. If it is inconvenient to visit the clinic, since most colds are caused by viruses such as respiratory or enteric viruses, you could consider taking some antiviral traditional Chinese medicine at home, as well as some symptomatic treatment medications targeting cold symptoms. Of course, attention must also be paid to dietary management, as the digestive function decreases during a cold. Therefore, it is advisable to eat small, frequent meals and avoid foods that are hard to digest or likely to cause allergies, in order to not exacerbate the child's symptoms. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

home-news-image

Written by Yao Li Qin

Pediatrics

1min 10sec

home-news-image

What are the symptoms of a cold in children?

Pediatric colds, also known as acute upper respiratory infections, exhibit symptoms that can be categorized into local and systemic symptoms. Local symptoms include nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, mild coughing, discomfort in the throat, and sore throat. Systemic symptoms primarily consist of overall weakness, fever, reduced appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and generalized aches. In infants and toddlers, local symptoms are generally not as pronounced, while systemic symptoms tend to be more severe. For some children aged six months to three years, colds accompanied by fever can also lead to febrile convulsions. In older children, local symptoms are usually more prominent, while systemic symptoms are milder. Regarding this type of acute upper respiratory infection, there are two common specific types in children: herpangina and pharyngoconjunctival fever.

home-news-image

Written by Zhang Hui

Neurology

1min 6sec

home-news-image

Do you have a headache, nausea, and a cold?

Headache and nausea can be caused by various common conditions including migraine, tension headache, cluster headache, and neuralgia. Thus, headache and nausea are not necessarily indicative of a cold. It is important to check the body temperature and other accompanying symptoms. If a patient experiences a slight increase in temperature, such as between 37-37.5 degrees Celsius, accompanied by symptoms like sore throat, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing, these could suggest that a cold is causing the headache. A cold can also lead to nausea, especially in cases of gastrointestinal flu, where the illness may begin with headache and vomiting. Therefore, headache and nausea are not definitive signs of a cold. If respiratory infection symptoms are present, it may indeed be caused by a cold, and rest, increased fluid intake, consumption of vegetables and fruits, and taking cold medications if necessary would be advisable. If the headache is severe, appropriate pain relief medication should be administered.