| Colds and flu this winter 06:54 - Feb 22 with 2330 views | Dubtractor |
Pretty sure this has been covered before, but this winter seems to have been a bit prolific for really bad colds and viruses doesn't it?
I'm currently on my third really nasty cold (colds usually don't impact me too much, but not this year), and have had the flu too. Everyone I know has had a number of bad colds - and I've seen it mentioned a lot on here too.
I've been assuming it is a post covid thing - for any number of reasons (most likely impaired immune systems after 2 or 3 years of reduced exposure to viruses rather than any antivax theories) - but that's just guesswork tbh.
Anyone got any more scientific theories for why this winter has been so bad? |  |
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| Colds and flu this winter on 07:25 - Feb 22 with 2239 views | Steve_M |
Yes, definitely lots of illnesses that drag on. Took ages for a cold to clear up in the Autumn (having a tooth infection probably didn’t help there) and I’m just getting over another one that’s been really crap (despite several tests it doesn’t seem to be Covid). I do wonder whether there’s a lingering Covid effect on people at work too, not long Covid as such but a weakened immune system from Covid. |  |
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| Colds and flu this winter on 07:45 - Feb 22 with 2185 views | StokieBlue |
You don't need a "more scientific" theory, your point on the immune system is correct.
Probably worth mentioning it's not an "impaired" immune system, more one that hasn't seem these specific variants of viruses or has forgotten previous immunity and thus needs to learn to fight them. This is why covid was very dangerous, the immune system had the same issues with covid as it was new but covid could kill you and most colds won't. As a concrete example, anti-covid measures reduced flu rates in the US by 99% so it was always likely that would come back heavily.
Bit more of an explanation here:
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-03666-9
Interestingly (or not), a new study out seems to indicate that wearing a mask not only protects others from your illnesses but also provides protection to you from others illnesses - a point that was heavily disputed during the pandemic as there was little evidence to draw upon but could be another reason for the "immunity debt" around colds etc.
SB |  | | |
| Colds and flu this winter on 07:59 - Feb 22 with 2135 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
Please hold your breath at the Pigs gig next week. Me and Miss Slave have been lucky so far....must be all that fresh air and mucky hands. |  |
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| Colds and flu this winter on 08:02 - Feb 22 with 2129 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
| Colds and flu this winter on 07:45 - Feb 22 by StokieBlue |
You don't need a "more scientific" theory, your point on the immune system is correct.
Probably worth mentioning it's not an "impaired" immune system, more one that hasn't seem these specific variants of viruses or has forgotten previous immunity and thus needs to learn to fight them. This is why covid was very dangerous, the immune system had the same issues with covid as it was new but covid could kill you and most colds won't. As a concrete example, anti-covid measures reduced flu rates in the US by 99% so it was always likely that would come back heavily.
Bit more of an explanation here:
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-03666-9
Interestingly (or not), a new study out seems to indicate that wearing a mask not only protects others from your illnesses but also provides protection to you from others illnesses - a point that was heavily disputed during the pandemic as there was little evidence to draw upon but could be another reason for the "immunity debt" around colds etc.
SB |
Just to say that the logic of mask wearing would imply that once a virus/bacteria got through then the outcome will likely be worse due to lowered immunity. | |
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| Colds and flu this winter on 08:03 - Feb 22 with 2121 views | Mullet |
I've had one for about a week and a colleague went off with Covid - I assumed it's usual end of half term crash but this cold has been particularly annoying. Just ill enough to not be able to do much but not bed bound. |  |
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| Colds and flu this winter on 08:18 - Feb 22 with 2031 views | GlasgowBlue |
I must be an outlier because I avoided Covid, despite most of my family getting it and (touch wood)have avoided that nasty winter bug that everyone was coming down with, despite two of my kids coming down with it. |  |
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| Colds and flu this winter on 08:21 - Feb 22 with 2009 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
| Colds and flu this winter on 08:18 - Feb 22 by GlasgowBlue |
I must be an outlier because I avoided Covid, despite most of my family getting it and (touch wood)have avoided that nasty winter bug that everyone was coming down with, despite two of my kids coming down with it. |
Covid avoids hard core Tories as they are too mean to share it......def info. | |
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| Colds and flu this winter on 08:25 - Feb 22 with 1968 views | homer_123 |
| Colds and flu this winter on 08:18 - Feb 22 by GlasgowBlue |
I must be an outlier because I avoided Covid, despite most of my family getting it and (touch wood)have avoided that nasty winter bug that everyone was coming down with, despite two of my kids coming down with it. |
In all honesty GB - I suspect you have had it but either been asymptomatic or not tested positive. |  |
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| Colds and flu this winter on 08:50 - Feb 22 with 1885 views | RobTheMonk |
Madge, the twins and I all had a cold for the best part of three weeks.
The twins were full of snot and coughing as was Madge. Mine was more headache, snot and sore throat.
Mullet, mine was the same as your. Just enough to feel rough but not enough to stop me working (after the few days off). [Post edited 22 Feb 2023 8:53]
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| Colds and flu this winter on 09:02 - Feb 22 with 1828 views | StokieBlue |
| Colds and flu this winter on 08:02 - Feb 22 by BanksterDebtSlave |
Just to say that the logic of mask wearing would imply that once a virus/bacteria got through then the outcome will likely be worse due to lowered immunity. |
That's a bit of a false premise though.
If the number of cases is hugely lowered due to mask wearing then the overall effect on society is lowered and there is less virus in circulation so you're less likely to come across it and get a worse infection.
SB | | | |
| Colds and flu this winter on 09:13 - Feb 22 with 1791 views | hype313 |
| Colds and flu this winter on 07:45 - Feb 22 by StokieBlue |
You don't need a "more scientific" theory, your point on the immune system is correct.
Probably worth mentioning it's not an "impaired" immune system, more one that hasn't seem these specific variants of viruses or has forgotten previous immunity and thus needs to learn to fight them. This is why covid was very dangerous, the immune system had the same issues with covid as it was new but covid could kill you and most colds won't. As a concrete example, anti-covid measures reduced flu rates in the US by 99% so it was always likely that would come back heavily.
Bit more of an explanation here:
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-03666-9
Interestingly (or not), a new study out seems to indicate that wearing a mask not only protects others from your illnesses but also provides protection to you from others illnesses - a point that was heavily disputed during the pandemic as there was little evidence to draw upon but could be another reason for the "immunity debt" around colds etc.
SB |
Seems to be lots of different studies, this one said the opposite.
No wonder there is so much confusion around mask wearing.
https://www.cochrane.org/CD006207/ARI_do-physical-measures-such-hand-washing-or- |  |
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| Colds and flu this winter on 09:21 - Feb 22 with 1732 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
| Colds and flu this winter on 09:02 - Feb 22 by StokieBlue |
That's a bit of a false premise though.
If the number of cases is hugely lowered due to mask wearing then the overall effect on society is lowered and there is less virus in circulation so you're less likely to come across it and get a worse infection.
SB |
Yes but my point was about the likely impact on the individual of any particular virus....as hinted at in this thread.
On an individual basis it would also make sense to wear a mask if the fear of illness outweighed other factors. (Edit....if the cited research is accurate.) [Post edited 22 Feb 2023 9:24]
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| Colds and flu this winter on 09:22 - Feb 22 with 1717 views | StokieBlue |
There are quite a few issues with that Cochrane meta-analysis study.
Maybe easier to link to an analysis of the study:
https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/masks-revisited/
"This recent Cochrane review is very limited in scope and is highly problematic in its methods. The most we can conclude from it is that we need better and more relevant controlled trials of mask wearing to more precisely determine its effect on the spread of COVID. But it does not show that mask wearing does not work or that mask policies don’t work. Further, if we look at the totality of the evidence (not just these trials) the best current conclusions are:
Properly wearing face masks when in public during high risk of spread reduces the risk of spread of respiratory viruses in general and COVID specifically.
During a pandemic of a respiratory virus, mask mandates are an effective public health measure."
As you say though, conflicting studies does increase confusion.
SB [Post edited 22 Feb 2023 9:24]
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| Colds and flu this winter on 09:27 - Feb 22 with 1692 views | hype313 |
| Colds and flu this winter on 09:22 - Feb 22 by StokieBlue |
There are quite a few issues with that Cochrane meta-analysis study.
Maybe easier to link to an analysis of the study:
https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/masks-revisited/
"This recent Cochrane review is very limited in scope and is highly problematic in its methods. The most we can conclude from it is that we need better and more relevant controlled trials of mask wearing to more precisely determine its effect on the spread of COVID. But it does not show that mask wearing does not work or that mask policies don’t work. Further, if we look at the totality of the evidence (not just these trials) the best current conclusions are:
Properly wearing face masks when in public during high risk of spread reduces the risk of spread of respiratory viruses in general and COVID specifically.
During a pandemic of a respiratory virus, mask mandates are an effective public health measure."
As you say though, conflicting studies does increase confusion.
SB [Post edited 22 Feb 2023 9:24]
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Indeed, it seems to me, albeit from my limited research, that the N95 masks likely offer the best protection against viruses, the problem there is that 99% of the population were walking around in Gucci/ITFC/Branded ones which offered little protection at best. | |
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| Colds and flu this winter on 09:45 - Feb 22 with 1601 views | StokieBlue |
| Colds and flu this winter on 09:27 - Feb 22 by hype313 |
Indeed, it seems to me, albeit from my limited research, that the N95 masks likely offer the best protection against viruses, the problem there is that 99% of the population were walking around in Gucci/ITFC/Branded ones which offered little protection at best. |
As you say, N95 offer the best protection although surgical masks are also decent. Cloth masks are not great.
Another important factor is that the mask is actually worn properly, not too loosely or down around the chin.
I think it's important to highlight I am not advocating we wear masks all the time or even every winter, opinion has shown that clearly won't be the case and we won't be following the example of Asian countries.
However, the debate about whether masks works shouldn't really be a debate anymore and there shouldn't be a stigma if someone not feeling great or in a crowded area wants to wear and mask to protect themselves and others.
On the last point I think there has been some very real progress.
SB | | | |
| Colds and flu this winter on 10:09 - Feb 22 with 1543 views | Pinewoodblue |
| Colds and flu this winter on 08:25 - Feb 22 by homer_123 |
In all honesty GB - I suspect you have had it but either been asymptomatic or not tested positive. |
I thought I had avoided it but last March was tagged by the app and very surprised tested positive as felt fine. |  |
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| Colds and flu this winter on 10:24 - Feb 22 with 1505 views | Guthrum |
| Colds and flu this winter on 08:02 - Feb 22 by BanksterDebtSlave |
Just to say that the logic of mask wearing would imply that once a virus/bacteria got through then the outcome will likely be worse due to lowered immunity. |
Which is where artificially-induced immunity (i.e. vaccination) is really useful. Doesn't require actual, possibly harmful, exposure to the virus and protects the individual even if it gets past the mask. |  |
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| Colds and flu this winter on 10:43 - Feb 22 with 1426 views | Ryorry |
| Colds and flu this winter on 09:27 - Feb 22 by hype313 |
Indeed, it seems to me, albeit from my limited research, that the N95 masks likely offer the best protection against viruses, the problem there is that 99% of the population were walking around in Gucci/ITFC/Branded ones which offered little protection at best. |
It's always been the case that N95s offer some protection to the wearer as well as those they encounter, particularly in crowded places. The problem is that our incompetent (to put it mildly) Govt. never offered any info/advice on the difference between various masks & their efficacy.
There was plenty of excellent info about them circulating on social media, I found out about N95s from speciaist medics, incl virologists & epidemiologists, on Twitter, including info from the USA re their equivalent version.
For fit, I find the ones with headloops rather than earloops best (also as a specs wearer, the most comfortable).
There are also FFP3s, supposed to be even more effective (I think 98% as opposed to N95 95%) but haven't tried those. Re-usable are best from the planet's point of view. |  |
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| Colds and flu this winter on 10:51 - Feb 22 with 1399 views | Cotty |
This winter had been fine, but that's probably because I was ill for most of last spring. I think having kids in school and nursery has a big impact on that! |  | | |
| Colds and flu this winter on 11:31 - Feb 22 with 1320 views | leitrimblue |
| Colds and flu this winter on 10:51 - Feb 22 by Cotty |
This winter had been fine, but that's probably because I was ill for most of last spring. I think having kids in school and nursery has a big impact on that! |
Kids in school are like cute little Trojan Horses that you let back unto yer house in the afternoon and the infect you with all sorts. ( currently off work with a chest infection) |  | | |
| Colds and flu this winter on 11:50 - Feb 22 with 1276 views | noggin |
Started feeling rough yesterday, didn't sleep due to fever and nausea, and now feeling really rough. My daughter has been unwell for a day or two and is now coughing. Don't know if it's covid as I haven't got any tests. |  |
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| Colds and flu this winter on 13:07 - Feb 22 with 1069 views | Dubtractor |
| Colds and flu this winter on 07:59 - Feb 22 by BanksterDebtSlave |
Please hold your breath at the Pigs gig next week. Me and Miss Slave have been lucky so far....must be all that fresh air and mucky hands. |
I'll give you both a big hug! | |
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| Colds and flu this winter on 18:42 - Feb 22 with 828 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
| Colds and flu this winter on 13:07 - Feb 22 by Dubtractor |
I'll give you both a big hug! |
Only if you recognise us with masks on!! | |
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