How many microbes does it take to make you sick?
quantamagazine.org
How many microbes does it take to make you sick?
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Re: How many microbes does it take to make you sick?
#2>A tiny enough dose may even serve to remind our immune system of a pathogen’s existence, boosting our antibody response to keep us protected against it.
This article should be required reading, whatever your views on Covid and other conditions.
Although the attack method of the infection is significant, and the potential victim’s defenses are significant, the raw quantity of infectious agent and the exposure rate are also both important
Nothing is certain. Everything is statistics.
Re: How many microbes does it take to make you sick?
#3[deleted]
Re: How many microbes does it take to make you sick?
#4There is also bodily vigor to consider.
When you are strong you are resistant. When you are weak you are susceptible. The difference can be huge.
It's a good argument for clean living, regular exercise etc.
Re: How many microbes does it take to make you sick?
#5> A tiny enough dose may even serve to remind our immune system of a pathogen’s existence, boosting our antibody response to keep us protected against it. This article should be required reading, whatever your views on Covid and other conditions. Although the attack method of the infection is significant, and the potential victim’s defenses are significant, the raw quantity of infectious agent and the exposure rate a…
This is one of the reasons why masks are so important and why they don't need to be 100% effective. Just reducing the amount of viral load could turn a serious infection into something you might barely notice.
edit: Imagine this being controversial. I didn't realize there were Covid deniers and skeptics here, because what I've stated is completely within established science.
Re: How many microbes does it take to make you sick?
#6There is also bodily vigor to consider. When you are strong you are resistant. When you are weak you are susceptible. The difference can be huge. It's a good argument for clean living, regular exercise etc.
When I was sixteen I sailed a lot on the lakes in my neighborhood. I was strong and healthy and thought: what could microbes do against 1 meter 90 of me? So I drank the water from the lake to see what would happen. I became rather sick to my stomach :-) and I considered defeat
Re: How many microbes does it take to make you sick?
#7> A tiny enough dose may even serve to remind our immune system of a pathogen’s existence, boosting our antibody response to keep us protected against it. This article should be required reading, whatever your views on Covid and other conditions. Although the attack method of the infection is significant, and the potential victim’s defenses are significant, the raw quantity of infectious agent and the exposure rate a…
This is one of the reasons why masks are so important and why they don't need to be 100% effective. Just reducing the amount of viral load could turn a serious infection into something you might barely notice. edit: Imagine this being controversial. I didn't realize there were Covid deniers and skeptics here, because what I've stated is completely within established science.
[deleted]
Re: How many microbes does it take to make you sick?
#8> A tiny enough dose may even serve to remind our immune system of a pathogen’s existence, boosting our antibody response to keep us protected against it. This article should be required reading, whatever your views on Covid and other conditions. Although the attack method of the infection is significant, and the potential victim’s defenses are significant, the raw quantity of infectious agent and the exposure rate a…
> boosting ourantibody response
What I wonder is if we can develop immunity (not boosting, assuming never been infected before) from being exposed to small doses, or do we need at least one full blown infection.
Re: How many microbes does it take to make you sick?
#9There is also bodily vigor to consider. When you are strong you are resistant. When you are weak you are susceptible. The difference can be huge. It's a good argument for clean living, regular exercise etc.
Being in excellent health can increase the required pathogen dose, and help resist illness. It can also, paradoxically, cause worse results. See, for example, “cytokine storm.”
Re: How many microbes does it take to make you sick?
#10> A tiny enough dose may even serve to remind our immune system of a pathogen’s existence, boosting our antibody response to keep us protected against it. This article should be required reading, whatever your views on Covid and other conditions. Although the attack method of the infection is significant, and the potential victim’s defenses are significant, the raw quantity of infectious agent and the exposure rate a…
This is one of the reasons why masks are so important and why they don't need to be 100% effective. Just reducing the amount of viral load could turn a serious infection into something you might barely notice. edit: Imagine this being controversial. I didn't realize there were Covid deniers and skeptics here, because what I've stated is completely within established science.
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