Many people have reported suffering from a cold this summer with symptoms such as a runny nose, muscle aches, cough, headaches and sore throat.
However, when they test negative for Covid, many are left wondering why they have come down sick with a common winter illness in the middle of summer.
One Irish expert has explained why so many people seem to be sick with a summer cold and how previous Covid restrictions could have something to do with it.
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Dr Fidelma Fitzpatrick, a Consultant Microbiologist at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, explained that contrary to popular belief, some viral infections actually thrive in the warmer summer months.
"In the summer, enteroviruses and parainfluenza 3 virus are much more common [than “winter” viruses such as influenza and RSV], with infections from these viruses tending to peak in summer and early autumn when the weather is warmer and more humid," she wrote in The Conversation.
"Both viruses cause typical cold symptoms, including a runny nose, low energy, muscle aches, cough, headaches and sore throat. Parainfluenza can sometimes cause bronchitis and pneumonia in people who have a poorly functioning immune system."
While many people also suffer from seasonal allergies in the summertime which share similar symptoms to a cold, Dr Fitzpatrick said there are some key differences that help you know the difference.
Two indicators of a viral infection are fever or body aches - which are not symptoms of seasonal allergies - and allergies also rarely cause people to cough so if you are coughing, it's likely you have a common cold virus.
Another reason why so many people seem to be affected by a summer cold this year is due to lockdowns, mask wearing and social distancing in previous years.
She said our immune system has not been exposed to the new viruses of last summer and therefore has not been boosted, which leaves us vulnerable to picking up an infection this year now that restrictions have been lifted.
As well as that, during the warm summer months we are socialising and travelling more, giving more opportunity to be exposed to viruses that are circulating around and becoming sick.
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