During this period when we are more susceptible to colds, many people will ask a question: whether it is possible to suffer from two different colds at the same time. The answer is yes. Moreover, this is not a difficult thing.This phenomenon is called co-infection This occurs when two bacteria (in this case, viruses) cause an infection at the same time. We tell you the details.
More than 100 viruses They cause the common cold, so exposure to two at the same time is not uncommon. And, since one virus typically doesn’t confer immunity to the other, and everyone is waging their own war, the possibility of being infected with two viruses at the same time is more common than we think.
Also, with things like this right now, where everyone seems to be sick, cold and rainy, many of us could easily end up at some point, Exposure to more than one virus.
The best data on co-infection comes from More serious virus research, 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.
For HIV, coinfection with the two main types HIV-1 and HIV-2 is really beneficial. Slow the progression of the disease. However, co-infection with HIV and hepatitis C virus worsens outcomes.
Influenza viruses cause respiratory infections similar to the common cold, Co-infections are rare. Co-infection with the two major influenza viruses, influenza A and B, occurred in less than 2% of cases but did not appear to affect the overall results.
Co-infection with the common cold difficult to learn In the past, there were a large number of viruses that could cause colds.In recent years, however, advances in molecular genetics have allowed scientists to understand Rhinovirusthe most common cause of the common cold.
In 2009, scientists sequenced all genetic material 99 known strains of rhinovirus. They found that superinfection with multiple strains was a common phenomenon and that superinfection provided opportunities for the virus to spread. mutate into new strains.