I'd say you catch one from another person, via virus in droplets of saliva or nasal mucus in the air or nose/mouth to hand then hand to nose/mouth. Something like that.
OR you might already have the virus inside you ready for the attack but you might be keeping it at bay for the time being because your immune system going good.

My mother in law, rings me up each time a kid of mine is sick (as it has been, my eldest had a highish temperature for about 12 hours yesterday, without any symptoms apart from being a big tired and looking pale. Hwas still hungry and wanted to eat as normal, AND refused to stay in bed because he wanted to play - he is nearly 10 years old. I watched him like a hawk and asked him all throughout the day how he was feeling "I'M NOT SICK MUMMY!!" ) She says to me he was sick because the change in temperature. Because on Monday it was a nice day and on Tuesday it got cold "perhaps he was inside sweating and went outside"



She insists she herself developed bronchitis in the 2 minutes outside as she left the gym to go to her car without a jacket on.

The older my wife gets, the more accurate the old wives' tales seem to be.

RodeoSchro said:

I agree that changes in temperature can assist in becoming infected FASTER by taxing your immune system but if you don't have contact with a virus from another person, how could you catch it?!

I caught bronchitis off someone who had it and couldn't be bothered to put his hand to his mouth when he coughed or sneezed. Sure, I might of caught it regardless, but Iam sure that didn't help matters though.

I've only ever had bronchitus once (last christmas), and it hasn't recurred as of yet thank goodness. Main problem was sleeping. You cannot get to sleep because you cough all the damn time.

thesexofit said:

bronchitis isn't a virus, as far as I know (and therefore I imagine it isn't contagious in itself), but it's usually a secondary infection as a result of a virus you catch from someone else.

it's a BITCH

ZombieKitten said:

I lost the top end of my voice as well. I guess my speaking voice is quite deep, but I couldn't sing as badly as I usually would because it was just gone Not a major side effect LOL, but still...

Couple of years ago I was coming from Thailand back to the States, and this woman was sitting across the aisle who look "healthy" when she took her seat. An hour into the flight she started cough, sneezing getting sick. I told my mother, I'm going to catch whatever the f&^$! she has. I did, strep throat.

Before they started all the mess about what can and can't bring on planes, I use to carry lysol spray and spray down my chair/tray. Now, I carry clorox wipes and face mask.


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[Edited 5/5/10 19:59pm]

TD3 said:

The air in a plane is very VERY dry it's harder to fight the bugs with dry irritated membranes in your nose and throat - your front line defences are half down even before you encounter a virus

Interestingly, the air on a plane is generally very clean - free of most funguses and bacteria and pollens one would encounter on the average day on the ground, but being in such close contact with people for prolonged periods means you catch their colds and flus

I read virtually all skiers have colds 24/7 because of well, always being in cold weather I guess? Something like that.

Dress warmly

thesexofit said:

and all the hanky panky together in the lodge each night!

ZombieKitten said:

I swear I caught the flu from someone after some "hanky panky" once. Great sex though, but not worth it for what I got in return though

thesexofit said:

there is only one way to avoid that kind of thing

ZombieKitten said:

LOL, I think I even wore one that day. It was years ago now though. Right in time for christmas.

I have no idea about catching colds. I do know, however, that Mother in law's can be a big pain in the arse.

florescent said:

that IS the underlying theme here!!

ZombieKitten said:

Best tip I have for staying healthy on a plane: Coat the inside of your nose with Vaseline (or something similar) before you board. Keeps your nasal passages moisturized and forms a little bit of a barrier against anything floating around.

Of course, it won't help if someone's hacking, coughing and sneezing close to you, but it can't hurt!

Genesia said:

good idea
for further in than your finger can reach, use a saline nasal spray every couple of hours during the flight.

ZombieKitten said:

Yes! I do the vaseline on planes too.

And I have to tell you, there has been one ridiculously simple thing I have started doing in the last year that has literally been a life saver.

A Netipot.

I'm almost 40 years old, and for the past 12 years I have been getting chronic bronchitis (turned into pneumonia twice) in a riciculously vicious cycle of sicknesses due to allergies etc... (I moved from Boston to Texas and let's just say the allergens down here don't play nice).

Any way, after going to countless doctors/allergists etc.. last year a coworker said, "hey, have you ever tried a netipot". I've got to tell you, since March of 2009 I have not been sick ONCE. After 12 flipping years of going to the doctor.

Instead of using a presciption nasal spray once a day, I now use it three or four times a YEAR. (When the allergens are at their peak).

The first few times you use it it feels like torture, but once you get used to it, it becomes as routine as something like shaving. Can't recommend it enough.

ZombieKitten said:

You are correct. You cannot develop a cold (or any other virus-related sickness) unless you are exposed to and house one of the many viruses that cause a cold. Viruses do not form from nothing. Pasteur disproved spontaneous generation.

Very carefully. Perhaps this will give you an idea....

I don't know, but if it hollers, let it go!

ZombieKitten said:

The air on planes is recirculated. They save fuel by ingesting less air and recirculating more of what's in the cabin. So viruses get to circulate during the flight, so you may be exposed to several viruses by you may fall prey to only one. Your immune system may be too busy with others and one gets through and grows until you're sick.

DoesNotCompute said:

The bear must think it's a trick. The bear knows he's not going in that cage , , ,

SUPRMAN said:

yes, this is what I mean by close contact - you are stuck in a tin can for many hours at a time TOGETHER with what, between 80 and 300 people.

Poiple said:

I win I win I win!!!!!

ZombieKitten said:

My grandparents always thought that you could catch cold just from temperature differences too (standing over the air conditioning vent after sweating outside, going outside with a t-shirt on when it's cold out, etc.).

Poiple said:

and experience proves them right, but they neglect to think of all those coughing people they came into contact with as well!!