if possible.It’s not that hard for someone Caught two colds at the same time. But with the “epidemic” of respiratory infections, it’s likely we’re not even aware of it.
It only takes two bacteria, in this case two viruses, to infect us at the same time.This phenomenon is known in medicine as co-infection.
Who can catch two colds at the same time?
If we consider that there are no fewer than 100 viruses that can cause the common cold, we understand that this is not so difficult.
Especially in a situation like now, where everyone seems to be sick, frost, heavy rain… with all of this landscape, it’s easy for many of us to be exposed to more than one virus at some point.
Now that we are exposed, and they are the first contacts of the season, it would not be surprising if two of them end up infecting us.
We must not forget that one virus usually does not confer immunity to another, and since each virus is waging its own war, the possibility of being infected with two viruses at the same time is common.
Data mixed infection
Research on mixed infections typically does not focus on colds, which are less severe and therefore do not take up as much time or resources on the part of researchers.
The best data come from studies of more serious viruses, such as HIV and hepatitis.
These studies suggest that co-infections can worsen, improve, or have no effect on the course of the disease. The results depend on the virus involved.
in the case of HIVCo-infection with the two major types of HIV-1 and HIV-2 is actually beneficial because it can slow the progression of the disease. However, if you are also infected with hepatitis C virus, the outcome can be worse.
And the flu?
In cases where influenza viruses cause respiratory infections similar to the common cold, coinfections are rare, according to the researchers.
Especially between influenza A and B (the most common mixed infections) The incidence rate is less than 2%.
Additionally, co-infections with the common cold have been difficult to study due to the large number of viruses that can cause the common cold.
However, advances in molecular genetics in recent years have allowed scientists to understand rhinoviruses, the most common cause of the common cold.
More than a decade ago, in 2009, scientists were able to sequence all the genetic material of 99 known strains of rhinovirus.
They found simultaneous infection Multiple strains are common. They also found that co-infection gives the virus a chance to mutate into new strains.
Today, diagnostic tests are available to find out which viruses infect us. In 2013, doctors used these tests to study 225 children in day care centers.
turn out:
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almost half of the children Infected with more than one virus when they are sick.
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Children infected with multiple viruses did not appear to be sicker than those infected with a single virus, but they remained sick for longer.
Now this data has been verified by review, which leads us to a conclusion:
It’s possible to get two colds at the same time, and they probably won’t make us feel worse. What seems likely to happen is that the cold will linger longer.