Can I Give Myself the Flu Again
It's that time of the year when information technology seems like everyone you know has had a cold, flu or some other nasty bug.
Afterwards existence sick, nosotros'll practise anything to avoid getting reinfected. So, does that mean we demand to toss out the toothbrush? What else practise nosotros demand to ditch to stay healthy?
Luckily, you can't be reinfected past the same cold virus, but there are some 200 different strains circulating at any given time.
"You develop antibodies for each of the viruses you lot are exposed to," said Dr. Natalie Azar, NBC medical contributor. "If you are having a common cold that feels similar it just doesn't quit, it is probably a different cold virus."
Charles Gerba, a professor of microbiology and environmental sciences at the Academy of Arizona, agreed.
"Information technology is difficult to re-infect yourself," he said.
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Afterwards existence exposed to a virus, the body creates antibodies to fight off the virus. When you lot recover from that item virus, your body no longer remains susceptible to that strain.
Every bit for re-exposure, that virus on the toothbrush, lip balm, mascara, sheets or towels won't make y'all sick again. Just if other viruses and bacteria linger on these items, a new illness can develop.
Flu, staph, strep, e-coli, and yeast ordinarily live on toothbrushes said Dr. Heather Rosen, medical manager of UPMC Due north Huntington Urgent Care.
"There are so many bacteria that tin can reside on a toothbrush; therefore, it is always all-time to get rid of it in one case you accept been infected with some sort of viral or bacterial illness," she said.
And, replacing your toothbrush after affliction reduces the chance that your nasty brush spreads its germs to anyone else'southward nearby brushes.
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Yuck factor
On the other side, Gerba says non to worry as well much nigh toothbrushes spreading disease.
"It is merely a yuck cistron," he said.
Notwithstanding, information technology is generally recommended to change your toothbrush every three months. And keep information technology away from the toilet, considering airborne droplets released from flushing settle on toothbrushes, Gerba brash.
And, never share toothbrushes.
"You tin catch infections like a cold, bloodborne disease [retrieve Hepatitis B or C], or even bacterial infections if you have a take chances and utilise someone else'south toothbrush," Rosen said.
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How about that lip balm?
When we're sick and dehydrated, lip balm becomes our next best friend — afterwards nasal tissue and a cup of hot light-green tea.
Fortunately, lipstick, lip balms and mascara frequently contain anti-microbial ingredients, reducing the number of germs flourishing in them, said Gerba.
Simply, don't share makeup! People can still get sick if they borrow someone else's make-upwardly; information technology'southward an piece of cake way to contract oral herpes or pink heart, says Rosen.
Information technology'due south not about yous
When it comes spreading colds and influenza, bar lather and towels tin can be germ factories. After rubbing hands on the lather, the germs remain on the bar, said Gerba. If people neglect to sufficiently wash the germs off their hands, the leftovers may cling to hand towels.
"They tin can exist a conduit for transmitting germs," said Gerba. "Modify those towels every two or iii days."
Sheets can as well harbor germs, which could infect a salubrious bed partner if they remain unwashed afterward affliction.
"Viruses can survive much, much shorter periods of fourth dimension on a porous surface," says Azar. But they tin linger upward to 24 hours on hard surfaces, such as counters, tables, calculator keyboards, and remote controls.
It doesn't take much to clean away almost germs, fortunately. Azar suggests thoroughly cleaning the house, sheets and towels after affliction "if you lot desire to exist kind to other people. It'south not virtually you — information technology is about other people."
Source: https://www.today.com/health/nasty-cold-or-flu-finally-over-do-i-need-toss-t75406#:~:text=Luckily%2C%20you%20can't%20be,Natalie%20Azar%2C%20NBC%20medical%20contributor.
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