Reinfection Depends on the Virus Strain But there's good news. It's actually highly unlikely to catch the same cold twice. Colds are caused by viruses, and when your immune system fights one infection off, it builds antibodies to it.
Some people get back-to-back colds, infected by a new virus.
So, while infection with a cold virus can protect against reinfection with that same virus, the existence of hundreds of different types of cold viruses means that we will always be susceptible to catching colds.
A number of different viruses can cause a cold, so it's possible to have several colds one after the other, as each one may be caused by a different virus.
You might be feeling residual symptoms from the original virus, Dr. Greninger says. Maybe your body is rebelling because you pushed yourself too hard without being fully healed, or maybe the cold is just hanging around more than you're used to, Dr. Greninger says.
If you're exposed to new strains of viruses, the likelihood is that you may come down with a cold. It's not uncommon for children and toddlers to develop colds every few weeks but as their immunity develops with age, the frequency of developing viruses will reduce to around two to three colds per year.
Sometimes you'll start to feel better—only to rebound and get much worse.
The short answer? Research suggests that, for preschool-aged kids, it's not unusual to have very frequent colds — up to one every month, Esper said. Once kids get older and are able to practice hand hygiene, the number of colds they'll get tends to go down to about four to six times per year, Esper continued.
And some patients might get back-to-back colds, doctors say. It isn't likely people will be reinfected with the same virus because the body builds some immunity to it. But people can pick up another of the more than 200 known viruses that can cause the common cold, some of which are worse than others.
You can spread the common cold from a few days before your symptoms appear until all of the symptoms are gone. Most people will be contagious for up to 2 weeks. Symptoms are usually worse during the first 2 to 3 days, and this is when you're most likely to spread the virus.
You're Overexposed to the Cold Virus
There are over 200 known viruses that can cause the common cold. So even if you've had a cold before, your immune system probably hasn't built up defenses against every virus strain that can lead to a cold. Another reason could be that you're around a lot of people who are sick.
Within 7–10 days , people will usually start to recover from a cold. Symptoms begin to ease up, and people will start feeling better. People may also find that they have more energy and are more able to carry out tasks as usual.
The stages of a cold include the incubation period, appearance of symptoms, remission, and recovery. The common cold is a mild upper respiratory infection caused by viruses.
DAY 4 to 7:
In the peak stage of a cold, your symptoms may reach their maximum intensity, resulting in effects such as a runny nose, cough, sinus/nasal congestion, body aches, headache and fatigue. In some, cases, this may also lead to a fever.
You Aren't Getting Enough Rest
Sleep helps keep your immune system working like it should. Once you have a cold, you need to catch enough Zzz's to help your body fight off the virus. Take it extra easy during the first 3 days. Too little shut-eye can also make you more likely to get a cold.
Cold and cough symptoms often feel worse at night. You aren't just imagining it. This is due to your body's circadian rhythms, hormones, body position, and lack of distraction at night. A cough that happens mainly at night can be caused by asthma, reflux, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or sinusitis.
If symptoms get worse, rather than better, after 3-7 days, you may have acquired a bacterial infection. These symptoms can also be caused by a cold virus other than a rhinovirus.
In summary, vitamin D does seem to have benefits in decreasing colds and flu in those who have exceedingly low levels of vitamin D -- a level not seen in the majority of the population.
A lack of sleep, poor diet, anxiety, or stress can often cause a person to feel sick. These factors can make a person more susceptible to infection and illness. However, always feeling sick can also signify pregnancy or chronic illness. When sick, a person may experience stomach discomfort and vomiting.
If your cold symptoms haven't cleared up after 10 days, but instead persist without improvement, your cold may have morphed into a sinus infection. Sinus infections happen when fluid builds up in the air-filled pockets in the face (sinuses), which allows germs to grow.