Multiple reports say the idea that colds only happen in winter is a misconception. They explain that viral infections can occur in summer as well, so symptoms such as sneezing may come from a “summer cold” rather than hay fever. The coverage points to the fact that cold-like illnesses can spread during warmer months, and people may mistake them for seasonal allergies because both can involve similar upper-respiratory symptoms. While the articles do not provide a single definitive test, they emphasize that sneezing in summer does not automatically indicate hay fever. Instead, they recommend looking at the overall pattern of symptoms and considering that common viral infections can affect people outside the traditional cold-and-flu season. The reports frame summer colds as an alternative explanation for allergy-like symptoms, highlighting that the name “cold” can be misleading and that respiratory viruses are not limited to winter.