Normal to get sick (cold, sore throat, fever) after session with legal GL WL

[sammyboyfor]

Originally Posted by Big Sexy

common knowledge is that flu virus is spread via droplets.. ( e.g coughing, sneezing or even when talking) you dont need to kiss or paint to get the flu..

The most common mode of transmission is from objects such as door handles, atm keyboards, YOUR PHONE etc. The cold virus can survive on surfaces for 24 hours or more. If you touch an infected surface and then rub your eyes or dig your nose transmission is almost a certainty.

The most effective means of avoiding the cold and flu virus is to keep your hands away from your face and to wash your hands as often as possible.

*********************************

https://www.commoncold.org/prevention.htm

Cold viruses grow mainly in the nose where they multiply in nasal cells and are present in large quantities in the nasal fluid of people with colds. (4, 5)

The highest concentration of cold virus in nasal secretions occurs during the first three days of infection. This is when infected persions are most contagius. (4, 5, 62)

Nasal secretions containing cold viruses contaminate the hands of people with colds as a result of nose blowing, covering sneezes, and touching the nose. (3-5) Also, cold viruses may contaminate objects and surfaces in the environment of a cold sufferer. (64-66) Young children are the major reservoir of cold viruses and a particularly good source of virus containing nasal secretions. (5)

Blowing Nose

Experiments have demonstrated that a cold virus readily transfers from the skin and hands of a cold sufferer to the hands and fingers of another person during periods of brief contact. (3-5, 66) Also, cold viruses readily transfer to the hands as a result of touching contaminated objects and surfaces. (64)

Transferring Infection

Virus on the fingers is transferred into the nose and eye by finger-to-nose and finger-to-eye contact. (3, 66) Virus deposited in the eye promptly goes down the tear duct into the nose. Once in the nose, a cold virus is transported by mucociliary action to the adenoid area where it starts a cold (7, also see How Cold Virus Infection Occurs).

In some instances, cold virus, which is expelled into the air in coughs and sneezes, may land in the nose or eye and cause infection. (63)



Reducing the Risk of Spreading Colds

Avoid Catching a Cold

Limit contact with known cold sufferers, especially during the first three days of their illness.

Practice preventive measures which keep cold virus from entering the nose:

Wash hands after contact with cold sufferers and objects and surfaces they may have contaminated.

Keep fingers out of the eyes and nose.

Avoid having cold sufferers cough and sneeze on you or in your direction.

Hand Washing

Hand washing removes cold viruses from the skin of the hand and fingers.

Cold virus is removed by the mechanical action of washing. Ordinary soaps and detergents do not inactivate cold virus but help in its removal from the hand.

Hand washing is especially important after contact with a cold sufferer or with objects or surfaces which may be contaminated.

Hand washing is particularly important after contact with young children with colds.

Germicidal hand lotions do not reliably kill rhinovirus, the most important cold virus.

[sammyboyfor]

How long do bacteria and viruses live outside the body?


Preventing the spread of infection

It depends on the type of bacteria or virus, what kind of surface they are on and what the surrounding environment is like, for example, if it's hot, cold, damp or sunny.

Cold viruses

Many different types of viruses can cause colds. The viruses can sometimes survive on indoor surfaces for more than 7 days. In general, viruses survive for longer on non-porous (water resistant) surfaces, such as stainless steel and plastics, than porous surfaces, such as fabrics and tissues. Although cold viruses have been shown to survive on surfaces for several days, their ability to cause an infection reduces rapidly and they don't often survive longer than 24 hours.

Most viruses which cause colds only survive on hands for a short amount of time. Some only last for a few minutes but 40% of rhinoviruses, a common cold-causing virus, are still infectious on hands after an hour.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), another cold-like virus that can cause serious illness in children, can survive on worktops and door handles for up to 6 hours, on clothing, and tissues for 30 to 45 minutes and on skin for up to 20 minutes.

Flu viruses

Flu viruses capable of being transferred to hands and causing an infection can survive on hard surfaces for 24 hours. Infectious flu viruses can survive on tissues for only 15 minutes.

Like cold viruses, infectious flu viruses survive for much shorter periods on the hands. After 5 minutes the amount of flu virus on hands falls to low levels.

Flu viruses can also survive as droplets in the air for several hours; low temperatures increase their survival in the air.

Parainfluenza virus, which causes croup in children, can survive for up to 10 hours on hard surfaces and up to 4 hours on soft surfaces.

Stomach bugs

There are many germs that can cause a stomach bug. They include bacteria such as E. coli, salmonella, Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) and campylobacter, as well as viruses such as norovirus and rotavirus.

Salmonella and campylobacter survive for short periods of around 1 to 4 hours on hard surfaces or fabrics. Norovirus and C. difficile, however, can survive for much longer. In one study, C. difficile was shown to survive for 5 months. Norovirus can survive for days or weeks on hard surfaces.

When someone with norovirus vomits, the virus is distributed in small droplets in the air. These droplets can settle on surfaces, causing the virus to spread, so it's important to clean surfaces thoroughly if someone in your home has norovirus.

Most bugs can be removed effectively by soap and water. To help prevent the spread of stomach bugs wash your hands thoroughly and regularly, particularly after going to the toilet, and prepare food safely.

MRSA

The staphylococcus aureus bacteria that cause MRSA infections can survive for days to weeks on surfaces. MRSA bacteria can live on surfaces for longer than some other bacteria and viruses because they survive better without moisture. Generally, MRSA bacteria survive for longer on hard surfaces than on soft surfaces.

Herpes

Herpes viruses from cold sores around the mouth can survive for 2 hours on the skin. If you have a cold sore, try not to touch it. If you do touch it, for example to apply cold sore cream, wash your hands immediately afterwards.

Preventing the spread of infection

It's not always possible to avoid catching an illness, but there are ways to reduce your risk and to prevent infections spreading to others:

Wash your hands regularly, particularly after going to the toilet, before handling food and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.

Keep your home clean and hygienic, particularly if a member of your family is unwell. Read more about how to prevent germs from spreading.

Wash fabrics that may be contaminated with bacteria or viruses at 60C (140F) and with a bleach-based laundry product. Read more about keeping clothes clean in Can clothes and towels spread germs?

Read the answers to more lifestyle questions.

Page last reviewed: 10/08/2018
Next review due: 10/08/2021