I Got Sick Just to Get Sick Again
Information technology's that time of the year when it seems like everyone you know has had a cold, influenza or some other nasty issues.
After being sick, nosotros'll do anything to avoid getting reinfected. So, does that hateful nosotros need to toss out the toothbrush? What else do we need 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 fourth dimension.
"You develop antibodies for each of the viruses yous are exposed to," said Dr. Natalie Azar, NBC medical correspondent. "If you are having a cold that feels similar information technology just doesn't quit, it is probably a different cold virus."
Charles Gerba, a professor of microbiology and ecology sciences at the Academy of Arizona, agreed.
"It is hard to re-infect yourself," he said.
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Later on existence exposed to a virus, the body creates antibodies to fight off the virus. When you lot recover from that item virus, your trunk no longer remains susceptible to that strain.
As for re-exposure, that virus on the toothbrush, lip balm, mascara, sheets or towels won't brand y'all ill again. But if other viruses and bacteria linger on these items, a new disease can develop.
Flu, staph, strep, e-coli, and yeast ordinarily alive on toothbrushes said Dr. Heather Rosen, medical director of UPMC North Huntington Urgent Care.
"There are and so many leaner that can reside on a toothbrush; therefore, it is e'er best to get rid of it once you have been infected with some sort of viral or bacterial illness," she said.
And, replacing your toothbrush after disease reduces the take a chance that your nasty brush spreads its germs to anyone else's nearby brushes.
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Yuck factor
On the other side, Gerba says non to worry as well much virtually toothbrushes spreading disease.
"It is just a yuck factor," he said.
However, it is generally recommended to change your toothbrush every three months. And keep information technology away from the toilet, because airborne droplets released from flushing settle on toothbrushes, Gerba advised.
And, never share toothbrushes.
"Yous can catch infections like a common cold, bloodborne disease [think Hepatitis B or C], or even bacterial infections if you gamble and apply someone else's toothbrush," Rosen said.
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How about that lip balm?
When we're sick and dehydrated, lip lotion becomes our next best friend — after nasal tissue and a cup of hot dark-green tea.
Fortunately, lipstick, lip balms and mascara often contain anti-microbial ingredients, reducing the number of germs flourishing in them, said Gerba.
Only, don't share makeup! People can still get sick if they borrow someone else's make-upwardly; information technology'southward an easy way to contract oral canker or pink eye, says Rosen.
It'southward not most you
When it comes spreading colds and influenza, bar lather and towels tin exist germ factories. Afterwards rubbing hands on the soap, the germs remain on the bar, said Gerba. If people neglect to sufficiently launder the germs off their hands, the leftovers may cling to paw towels.
"They can be a conduit for transmitting germs," said Gerba. "Change those towels every two or three days."
Sheets tin can as well harbor germs, which could infect a healthy bed partner if they remain unwashed afterward illness.
"Viruses can survive much, much shorter periods of time on a porous surface," says Azar. But they can linger upwards to 24 hours on hard surfaces, such as counters, tables, calculator keyboards, and remote controls.
It doesn't accept much to make clean abroad about germs, fortunately. Azar suggests thoroughly cleaning the firm, sheets and towels after illness "if you want to be kind to other people. It'due south not about yous — it is about other people."
Source: https://www.today.com/health/nasty-cold-or-flu-finally-over-do-i-need-toss-t75406
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