Covid and the Common Cold

[cliveb]

Just interested if anyone else here has noticed this...

My wife and I both had Covid last March.
Since then, we've not had a single cold between us, which is pretty unusual.
One obvious explanation is that social distancing means we're less likely to catch anything.

BUT: on at least 3 occasions I have definitely noticed the tell-tale signs of a cold coming on, only to feel fine the next morning.
So I'm wondering if having been exposed to Covid has actually somehow improved my resistance to the common cold (which as we all know is another type of coronavirus).

 

[Ethan]

Flu has dropped by 90% this year too. Less social contact, masks, better hand washing all adds up to less transmission of all these sorts of things.

 

[SatchFan]

Was thinking the same thing the other day. Normally my wife and I get one cold per year almost like clockwork. Neither of us have had a single sniffle since November 2019. Can only put it down to social distancing as we've both been very strict on following the COVID guidelines.

 

[Backache]

So I'm wondering if having been exposed to Covid has actually somehow improved my resistance to the common cold (which as we all know is another type of coronavirus).

The common cold is basically a set of symptoms which can be caused by numerous different viruses only 4 of which are coronaviruses. There are thought to be at least 200 other known and unknown viruses so its pretty unlikely that immunity to Covid from infection is the reason why you haven't had a cold .
Community and personal social distancing and hygiene measures are probably far more relevant.

 

[cliveb]

Thanks for the replies pointing out that social distancing has an effect. But nobody has addressed the caveat in my original posting:

BUT: on at least 3 occasions I have definitely noticed the tell-tale signs of a cold coming on, only to feel fine the next morning.

I'm referring here to the irritation at the back of the nose/top of the throat which consistently (for me) heralds the onset of a cold.
I've experienced it multiple times since having Covid but on each occasion it came to nothing.
This is completely at odds with how things were before: that feeling in the nose/throat invariably progressed on to a full-blown cold.
I appreciate it's only anecdotal, and that's why I was interested if anyone else has experienced the same thing.

 

[Kellfire]

I was discussing this with my boss today and we both fully expect colds to boom once we get back to “normal” because of the lack of exposure over the past year.

In terms of my own symptoms, I’ve had maybe one cold in the last year when I’d usually have at least three or four and I’m thankful for that because I suffer from chronic sinusitis and the common cold leads me to have no sense of taste for a week at least.

 

[need_my_wedge]

Thanks for the replies pointing out that social distancing has an effect. But nobody has addressed the caveat in my original posting:

I'm referring here to the irritation at the back of the nose/top of the throat which consistently (for me) heralds the onset of a cold.
I've experienced it multiple times since having Covid but on each occasion it came to nothing.
This is completely at odds with how things were before: that feeling in the nose/throat invariably progressed on to a full-blown cold.
I appreciate it's only anecdotal, and that's why I was interested if anyone else has experienced the same thing.

Have had similar experience. I think I had COVID last January/ February, maybe 3 or 4 times since have had that sniffly nose/ phlegm and niggly cough in the back of the throat, same as you, gone within 24-48 hours. Each time thought a cold was about to set in and every time cleared up quickly with no heavy effects.

Like yourself, totally anecdotal, no confirmation I had Covid.

 

[GuyInLyon]

Just interested if anyone else here has noticed this...
My wife and I both had Covid last March.
Since then, we've not had a single cold between us, which is pretty unusual.
One obvious explanation is that social distancing means we're less likely to catch anything.

If you are both simpley following the proper guidelines by wearing masks and washing your hands that could be having a big, positive, effect on your not getting a cold.
The incidence of influenza is way down as well.

 

[Ethan]

Thanks for the replies pointing out that social distancing has an effect. But nobody has addressed the caveat in my original posting:

I'm referring here to the irritation at the back of the nose/top of the throat which consistently (for me) heralds the onset of a cold.
I've experienced it multiple times since having Covid but on each occasion it came to nothing.
This is completely at odds with how things were before: that feeling in the nose/throat invariably progressed on to a full-blown cold.
I appreciate it's only anecdotal, and that's why I was interested if anyone else has experienced the same thing.

Dunno, could be a lot of things, but as backache has pointed out, most common colds are not coronaviruses anyway, and there appears to be little cross reactivity between coronaviruses and not likely to be any at all with other viruses. You could have some residual irritation of the lining of your nasopharynx, or the nerves in the area. Taste problems have been reported for months in some people, so some ongoing chronic irritation must be taking pace since they would normally recover faster. Is your taste affected? Have you started to like country music (bad taste), grow a ponytail while bald at the front (very bad taste) or like Mrs Brown's Boys (beyond help)?

 

[Jamesbrown]

Not had a cold since Hamburg 2017 which I probably caught on the plane.
The fear of norovirus and vomiting resulted in great hygiene.
I think some people only discovered washing hands last year.
Perhaps it’s the start of a good thing!

 

[Bunkermagnet]

I started to sanitise my hands after every house visit I made and before anytime I ate when working back in 2018 and since then I have had no colds or the like. I do think children and a distinct lack of hand washing amongst the population has a huge bearing on the colds that are passed around.

 

[cliveb]

You could have some residual irritation of the lining of your nasopharynx, or the nerves in the area. Taste problems have been reported for months in some people, so some ongoing chronic irritation must be taking pace since they would normally recover faster. Is your taste affected? Have you started to like country music (bad taste), grow a ponytail while bald at the front (very bad taste) or like Mrs Brown's Boys (beyond help)?

I never had a problem with taste/smell. My wife lost her taste and was wrecked for about 10 days, but I got off lightly - just fatigued with headaches for about 5 days. The only residual effect I'm aware of is that I've had to double my daily dose of beclomethasone to keep the (mild) athsma at bay.

As for country music, bad hair and dodgy sitcoms: how dare you even suggest such a thing!

 

[jim8flog]

Thanks for the replies pointing out that social distancing has an effect. But nobody has addressed the caveat in my original posting:

I'm referring here to the irritation at the back of the nose/top of the throat which consistently (for me) heralds the onset of a cold.
I've experienced it multiple times since having Covid but on each occasion it came to nothing.
This is completely at odds with how things were before: that feeling in the nose/throat invariably progressed on to a full-blown cold.
I appreciate it's only anecdotal, and that's why I was interested if anyone else has experienced the same thing.

I get all of those symptoms every winter and have them now. I have always just put it down to living in a centrally heated house and then going out in to the cold.

 

[ColchesterFC]

Could it be similar to less extreme cases of Covid in that social distancing, masks and hand washing mean you're getting a lower dose (?viral load?) of the cold virus and therefore your body is able to fight it off more effectively? You're getting the irritation in your throat but that's as far as it gets and your immune system fought it off at that point and it doesn't progress into a full on cold.

The above is just a theory from a completely non-medical viewpoint. Perhaps @Ethan will be able to tell us if that's vaguely possible or complete nonsense. And also if viral load is the correct terminology.

 

[Swango1980]

I've not had had Covid (that I'm aware off), but not had a cold in over a year. I'd guess that the reason you've not had a cold is simply to do with all the lockdowns / social distancing / hand washing, etc that everyone is doing. Also, if anyone does have a common cold, the symptoms are fairly obvious once it becomes transmissible, so I guess people will be far more minded to stay indoors. Otherwise, they may be worried about getting the evil eyes by members of the public when they sneeze or blow their nose.

I'm sort of worried I've not had a cold, as the odd little illness such as that helps to boost your immune system. So, I hope my immune system hasn't become pathetically weak now it has been untested for over a year, and the next time I get a minor cold it will flatten me.

 

[Ethan]

Could it be similar to less extreme cases of Covid in that social distancing, masks and hand washing mean you're getting a lower dose (?viral load?) of the cold virus and therefore your body is able to fight it off more effectively? You're getting the irritation in your throat but that's as far as it gets and your immune system fought it off at that point and it doesn't progress into a full on cold.

The above is just a theory from a completely non-medical viewpoint. Perhaps @Ethan will be able to tell us if that's vaguely possible or complete nonsense. And also if viral load is the correct terminology.

Missed this one before. The measures used to limit transmission of Covid have reduced transmission of loads of other stuff from the flu to infections of a more socially intimate nature. I suspect our colleague is not getting smaller viral loads and therefore minor infections, and these phenomena are a residual effect of Covid which can inflame various parts for months after. Long lasting effects on taste and small, both of which rely on nano-pharyngeal sensors are common.

 

[jim8flog]

Otherwise, they may be worried about getting the evil eyes by members of the public when they sneeze or blow their nose.

.

I get the evil eye a lot because I have semi permanent condition which means I have to clear my nose and throat fairly frequently. Always at it's worst in winter.