Can you get reinfected by the same bug/virus/cold/flu ?

Question

my grandchildren caught a cold/cough/flu bug after a few days I caught it and it quickly moved onto my chest, bronchitis. It took 2 weeks for the kids get better but they are still coughing a bit. Im feeling better, temp down but still caughing a little green up.

now my daughter has come down with it and is caughing and sneezing. I said keep away from me and the kids we are just getting over it. she said `dont worry you cant get it again`. Is she right??

Answer 1

Yep shes right.

There are literally thousands and thousands different strains of rhinovirus which causes the common cold. Once you catch a strain, you are immune to it. Therefore you and your kids cant catch that same strain again. So you wont catch it from your daughter, given that she has the exact same strain and it hasnt mutated. If it mutates, its a different strain and you can catch it.

Every time you get a cold, you catch a different strain, that is why they are so common. They are contagious and it is impossible to catch every strain and become immune since the virus is always mutating and changing and producing new strains.

The best way to keep yourself from getting a cold is to wash your hands frequently and avoid close contact with the infected person. If weather permits, open up the windows a rhinovirus is also airborne. Dont touch your eyes, nose or mouth either as the cold virus enters in through mucous membranes. Start eating really well and keep it up even when the cold has run its course. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables can strengthen the body's immune system and make your body stronger and be able to fight off the virus before it can multiply and affect your system.

Hope this helps! Good Luck! :)

Answer 2

Some illnesses such as chickenpox induce nearly 100% immunity after an attack, which means that you almost never get it again.

However the viruses of the common cold and the flu do not induce protective immunity in the people who get the illness, so you can definitely get it again. ( It's been said that anyone who discovers a cure or a vaccine against the common cold will get the Nobel prize for Medicine ! )

In your situation, since you can get it again, it makes very good sense to keep away from other people with the illness, and that includes anyone in the same household. So make sure your daughter gets some treatment. Because the viruses that cause cold are spread through  sneezed or coughed up particles in the air, make sure that she uses hankies or tissues and they are disposed of in the waste and not left lying around.  

Answer 3

yes you can get it again- if your body has not fully ridden itself of the bug, then it can come back and infect your body again.

your body is still weak and ur immune system is weakened because you are getting over it - so it is easier for u to get sick again

Answer 4

To know more about  

bronchitis

Please feel free to visit   http://learnmoreon.com/bronchitis/