How does your body eventually get rid of the viruses that cause a cold or flu?
353587
Before I start-penicillin is an antibiotic which kills bacteria, not viruses...it has no effect on viruses- In addition, penicillin is no longer widely used because there are so many resistant strains of bacteria, and is not used in general for respiratory infections.  A flu shot is taken to keep you from getting flu, since it aids the immune system in recognizing the influenza virus.\nOnce the body recognizes the virus, it produces anibodies, both circulating and on the surface of certain immune cells- Quickly, the antibodies will begin to stick to the viruses, often deactivating them-other immune cells come in, absorb the virus is a special way so that the virus is rendered harmless, and packaged into internal capsules called "lysosomes" which contain some very nasty molecules that destroy the virus itself.
40940
Colds are caught when a virus that our bodies aren't used to enter our immune system. If the immune system can't fight it off, your body lets it take it's course, but at the same time fights all the germs that it can handle until there is nothing left of the virus. You never catch the same virus though.
517732
Colds are caused by a virus...so there really isn't any medicine that will help. Bolster your immune response with lots of vitamin C, get plenty of rest and eat some Chicken Soup. Stay well hydrated too.
295175
You cant get rid of the cold at all...but you can get rid of the symptoms. Anything with pseudo ephedrine will help get rid of the symptoms. Codral, Contac C etc. Medical science has found a cure for polio, cancer etc but cannot find a cure for the common cold.
226870
Influenza, or ‘flu’, is a highly contagious acute viral infection that affects people of all ages. It typically starts suddenly with fever, chills, headache, aching muscles, general prostration and a cough or other respiratory symptoms. Most people recover without complications in 1-2 weeks\n\nMany of the symptoms of flu are similar to those of the common cold (see Common cold), and many people incorrectly refer to a heavy cold as ‘flu’. Viruses cause them both, but flu affects the lungs much more that a cold does. Also flu doesn’t usually give you the same congested ‘heavy headed’ feeling that a cold does.\n\nThe majority of fit, healthy people can treat the symptoms of flu at home using remedies commonly available from pharmacies.  Antibiotics are not prescribed for flu as they have no effect on viruses. They may rarely be necessary to control complications, especially serious chest infections or pneumonia.\n\nIt is usually advised that otherwise healthy people should stay at home and in bed for as long as the acute symptoms persist, this is usually for two or three days after the symptoms peak. It is important to drink plenty of fluids and to treat the symptoms as necessary. See the encyclopaedia entries on colds, sore throats and coughs for symptom relief. \n\nThere is more information on the NHS direct website about Flu and the Common cold, just perform a search
35007
If you touch something that has a virus or bacteria that causes a cold, and you touch something that you are eating, or if you rub your eyes or your mouth, that bacteria will be introduced to your systems. Since there are over 200 types of colds, it is unlikely that you will be immune to even half of them.
1186561
finding a cure for the common cold
714797
A cold always lasts around 10 days. Most likely you have a sinus infection, which needs to be treated with anti-biotics. Sinus infections don't go away on their on.
247848
Coughs are usually nature's way of clearing secretions from the nose, throat or lungs. Dry coughs are caused usually by a virus and can be helped by increasing your fluid intake, inhaling steam from a kettle and hot drinks. A prolonged cough for more than two weeks is reason to see the doctor.
161313
There is no cure for the common cold.  The best thing you can do is take plenty of fluids.  It's easy to get dehydrated if you're not eating very much, since so much of our water comes from food.  If you're not getting your vitamins, take them.  Your only hope for getting rid of the virus is waiting for your own immune system to fight it off.  The cold virus is called a rhinovirus.  There are very few treatments and no vaccines against it.
852878
To get a cold, you need to get a version of a cold virus into the nose or eye ducts. Touching your nose is enough if you have touched a virus from something like a door handle.\nWorrying, and stress weakens your immune system, making you more susceptible to colds.\nAn healthy diet, plenty of fruit and veg, and water aids the immune system.\n\nIf somebody sneezes in your presents the best avoidance advise, is to temporarily breath through your mouth.\n\nChristmas is a common time for lots of people to get colds, partly because they are trying to do too much, it becomes stressful, partly because lots of people meet around that time, and cold viruses abound. People are most infectious before they have obvious symptoms.
129053
There are two common types of disease. Bacterial and viral. People become sick by either being exposed to a large amount of a particular germ (bacterial or viral) or being exposed to one their immune system doesn't yet know how to fend off.\n\nWhy do people often get a runny nose and a cough/sneeze? When your body is fighting a disease, it builds up excess waste in the lungs (especially if it's a respiratory disease) the body removes this waste bay causing you either to sneeze or cough or making your nose run.\n\nWhy do people get a fever? A common way for your body to fight an infection is to overheat your body so that the bacteria or virus will no longer be able to survive.
109038
Flu is a virus - you can prevent it but once you have it, there is no cure. To help you feel better you can drink plenty of fluids, get plenty of rest, take vitamin C and/or use a humidifier (an electric device that puts water into the air). Talk to your Pharmacist or doctor about what medicines may also relief symptoms. If you are normally a fit and healthy person, time and your own body's defence mechanisms will cure you.
943417
A Virus can be killed but NOT cured.\n\nIf there is a virus on a tabletop, bleach will KILL it.  If you have a virus in your body, there is NO cure for ANY virus out there (think cold, flu, AIDS).\n\nIf you want scientific evidence, look it up on google!
616490
I was talking to an eye, ear, nose, and throat doctor last winter. She says the course of the virus causing cold will normally be about ten to fourteen days. The best further preventative measures can actually keep a person from having the common cold turn into something else.\nAlthough zinc and vitamin C are good, they are absolutely worthless if a person smokes, drinks alcohol, or drinks liquids with caffeine.\nPreventive measures to ease the discomfort and maybe having a prolonged cold, it is important to get as much rest as possible and drink the eight glasses of water you should already be drinking.\nIf people don't take care of the common cold, it could lead to other infections that love a body with lowered resistance. You do not stay away from crowds to keep others from getting a cold; you stay away from crowds to prevent getting further infections that could very well lead to pneumonia or pleurisy; both which are serious.\nFollowing common sense will help you cure the cold quickly. However it still will run its course. As far as vitamin C and zinc, it is OK as long as you do not exceed the daily recommended dosage. If you exceed the dosage, you will be a person with a common cold that has taken too much vitamin C and zinc, which incidentally is not so good for the health.
1022070
it doesnt....it just doesnt reproduce. Now, the body can get rid of certain infections on its own which is where the virus load actually decreases.Hope that was helpful. I'm sure you were expecting some big long drawn out answer which I could give you about how antibodies in the body work....but thats not what you asked.
919295
Wash your hands a lot because that is the chief way cold virus is transmitted. (i.e. the rhinovirus, and picorna virus family of bad actors). What happems is you pick up the virus by touching another erson or item they have just touched and the virus is transferred. That is no problem if we wash our hands frequently. But the virus is transferred into our bodies whne we touch our mouths, eyes, nose etc. We do that many times a day. Start making a mental note every time you do that and keep an accounting of those moves. You will be amased. I was.\nAlso, being in good physical condition and having plenty of good sleep, and rest helps. So does taking vitamin with mineral tablets daily.get a physical check up you may (very unlikely), have an immunodeficiency problem.\nMake sure your children wash their hands thoroughly after having a bowel movement, or afte you change a diaper.\nHand washing is the main defensive measure.\nGood luck,\nDoc. Dan.