the flu.

[Woody1985]

If you give someone the flu virus and yours has cleared up can you catch it back from them or have you built a resistance to that strain?

[Beefster]

If you give someone the flu virus and yours has cleared up can you catch it back from them or have you built a resistance to that strain?

I'm fairly sure that, if it's exactly the same virus, you can't catch it again as your immune system will have developed antibodies to it whilst you were ill.

If there are a couple of types of flu doing the rounds though, you can catch the other ones.

[Jay]

My doc reckons I have had two strains back to back. Been ill since the 17th Dec. I am taking my boys to get a flu jab on thurs but have to do it privately.

[s.a.m]

I'm no expert, but I think it would depend on the length of time your body takes to develop antibodies in sufficient number. IIRC antibodies to some illnesses (e.g. HIV) build up over a period of time (in the case of HIV, several months, I think. That's why the routinely used test* - which tests for antibodies rather than the virus - isn't considered reliable for a few months after infection), and you can catch more of the illness in the meantime. In response to the recent problems with late presentation for flu vaccination, and problems with availability in some places, medical organisations were saying that full immunity from the vaccine takes several weeks to complete.



*Please note that I'm about 15 years out of date on this.:greengrin Things may have moved on since, but the general point applies.

[Speedy]

If you give someone the flu virus and yours has cleared up can you catch it back from them or have you built a resistance to that strain?

No, if your body has been able to clear it up then you will have a resistence to it and won't suffer from it again.


I'm no expert, but I think it would depend on the length of time your body takes to develop antibodies in sufficient number. IIRC antibodies to some illnesses (e.g. HIV) build up over a period of time (in the case of HIV, several months, I think. That's why the routinely used test* - which tests for antibodies rather than the virus - isn't considered reliable for a few months after infection), and you can catch more of the illness in the meantime. In response to the recent problems with late presentation for flu vaccination, and problems with availability in some places, medical organisations were saying that full immunity from the vaccine takes several weeks to complete.



*Please note that I'm about 15 years out of date on this.:greengrin Things may have moved on since, but the general point applies.

I think it is reliable after about a month now rather than several months.

I'm not sure you can catch more of a virus that you already have :greengrin

[Hermit Crab]

No, if your body has been able to clear it up then you will have a resistence to it and won't suffer from it again.



I think it is reliable after about a month now rather than several months.

I'm not sure you can catch more of a virus that you already have :greengrin



The common cold constantly mutates therefore you are unlikely to catch the same cold virus again. Your body will not have dealt with the mutated versions therefor you are more likely to catch these rather than a version you have already had. I think thats why there is no known cure for the common cold as it constantly changes. As for the Influenza virus this is different but dont think you can catch the same virus twice as one previous poster has commented your body has built up a natural resistence.

[Woody1985]

Nice one. I didn't catch it back so it's looking good so far. :greengrin

[Removed]

Nice one. I didn't catch it back so it's looking good so far. :greengrin

Stop snogging birds with the flu and you'll be fine :thumbsup:

[Speedy]

The common cold constantly mutates therefore you are unlikely to catch the same cold virus again. Your body will not have dealt with the mutated versions therefor you are more likely to catch these rather than a version you have already had. I think thats why there is no known cure for the common cold as it constantly changes. As for the Influenza virus this is different but dont think you can catch the same virus twice as one previous poster has commented your body has built up a natural resistence.

Spot on :agree:

[HibeeEmma]

If you give someone the flu virus and yours has cleared up can you catch it back from them or have you built a resistance to that strain?

Apparently you can never catch the same type twice but there are so many out there (to most people are all just "flu") that you can get it again.

Load yourself with vitamin C - kiwis, oranges and strawberries and you should be fine.
Also a great thing i found recently is day and night nurse.

[Speedy]

Apparently you can never catch the same type twice but there are so many out there (to most people are all just "flu") that you can get it again.

Load yourself with vitamin C - kiwis, oranges and strawberries and you should be fine.
Also a great thing i found recently is day and night nurse.

:agree:

I also agree with the kiwis, they help with hangovers too :greengrin

[s.a.m]

No, if your body has been able to clear it up then you will have a resistence to it and won't suffer from it again.


I think it is reliable after about a month now rather than several months.

I'm not sure you can catch more of a virus that you already have :greengrin

Well, as I said, I'm no expert - but immunity isn't instantaneous. Depending on the virus (and presumably, the individual), it can take between a few days to a few weeks to develop an immune response to a virus. In the window between infection and immunity development, what would stop more of the virus piling in? I'm speculating here, but would this not, potentially, increase the proportion of your cells infected with the virus (and possibly make you iller?):dunno:

[Speedy]

Well, as I said, I'm no expert - but immunity isn't instantaneous. Depending on the virus (and presumably, the individual), it can take between a few days to a few weeks to develop an immune response to a virus. In the window between infection and immunity development, what would stop more of the virus piling in? I'm speculating here, but would this not, potentially, increase the proportion of your cells infected with the virus (and possibly make you iller?):dunno:

I suppose technically you are probably right but I wouldn't have thought it would make any noticable difference when the virus is already replicating inside you.

Either way, if your body has had a virus then it has cleared up then this would indicate you have built up an immune response to it. Although I think you could technically "catch" the virus back but your body would kill the virus before you notice so you wouldn't have "caught" it in the normal sense.

To be honest, I'm not an expert either and everything I've wrote has came from the top of my head so it could be utter Nade.