How common is catching a new cold immediately after recovering from a previous one?

[dave_c]

I must be really unlucky. :(

[sqad617]

Not unusual.

Tom Jones

[Gormless]

I thought it was very rare. Immediately post-viral infection you have high levels of interferon which should protect against further viral infections.

This is why it is a "good" thing to pick up a viral common cold in times when worse things such as influenza are roaming around.

[ummmm]

I've never had a cold....!!!

Why is that?

[sqad617]

Right...interferon does provide a PART of the immune response,but only a PART. Allergens are produced to combat virus infections bur depend on the antigenic structure of rhe virus.
Simply, if you have a cold, develpo antibodie to that cold and then immediately come into contact with another virus with a different antigenic structure then ypou have no resistance and can get another "cold"

Rhinoviruses are clever devils and can bypass interferon in many cunning ways.

[sqad617]

sorry about typing errors....got a mini laptop...bl00dy awful.

[Panic Button]

Ummm, it's because you are Superwoman.

If you really have never had a cold, keep quiet. If the boffins find out, you will be kidnapped and held in a laboratory for exhaustive testing.

[ummmm]

Why Thank you :-)

Seriously.....I have never had a cold. Or the flu.

I had a runny nose once.....

I did have a habit of breaking my bones when I was younger.