Going out with wet hair makes kids catch a cold

What the research found

Australian guidance on coughs and colds in children says colds are caused by viruses. These spread through droplets from the nose and mouth of an infected person, such as when they cough or sneeze. It says colds are not caused by getting cold or wet, or by going out with wet hair or bare feet.

Other Australian guidance says the same about how colds start. Cold viruses, mostly rhinoviruses and coronaviruses, spread by touching infected people or contaminated surfaces, or by breathing in the virus from the air. Wet hair is not on the list.

Kids catch lots of colds because they have not yet met many viruses, are around other children, and are still learning good hygiene. Healthy preschool children often catch at least 6 colds a year.

What it doesn’t mean

• No trials on wet hair were found. The verdict rests on health guidance about what causes colds, not on a direct test of wet hair.
• Colds are more common in winter, but the guidance names viruses, not wet hair, as the cause.
• If your baby is under 3 months old and has a fever above 38°C, go to the nearest hospital emergency department immediately or call triple zero (000). Call triple zero (000) or go to emergency if your child has trouble breathing. See a doctor if your child is not improving after 48 hours, is getting worse, or is not eating or drinking.