this is coming from a 12 year old germaphobe, :D and i had the stomache flu two days ago >.< and now my lil sis just got sick. is it easy for me to catch it again?
2006-07-07 14:13:57 · 17 answers · asked by Erica 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Usually if you get the flu again it would be a different strain. Probably your sister has the same flu that you had and your body now has immune cells ready to fight it off.
Here's a website that tells how to avoid catching the flu:
http://www.webmd.com/content/pages/5/4068_103.htm
2006-07-07 14:18:47 · answer #1 · answered by Ginger/Virginia 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Flu virus mutates easily, and multiple variants exists every year, so yes, you can catch it again.
You have an anti-body in your body that will protect you from the virus you were already exposed to, but the anti-body can only protect you from EXACTLY the same virus.
By the way, flu vaccine is not that effective because the vaccine manufacturers have to GUESS what the common/popular variant will be for the year, pick a few, and make a mix. If they guess incorrectly, or if there are a new mutated variant, and you were unfortunate enough to be exposed to it, you will catch it.
2006-07-07 14:21:16 · answer #2 · answered by tkquestion 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can, sorry.
There are several different strains of Influenza.
And the flu shot is an educated guess that includes known strains. New strains every year. I'm so sorry telling this to a germaphobe.
2006-07-07 14:20:13 · answer #3 · answered by 4mom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually you didn't have the flu if all your symtoms where gastric. The flu is a respiratory illness.
The best thing to do is keep your hands away from your mouth and wash your hands frequently, and your little sister too. Don't share anything that your little sister might have had in her mouth.
2006-07-07 16:19:33 · answer #4 · answered by mocha5isfree 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if your sister has the same strain of flu as you do, then you will not catch it again because your body already has the immunities built up to fight that strain. but if she has developed a different form of the virus, then yes, you will probably get sick again.
2006-07-07 14:17:41 · answer #5 · answered by untysteph 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Avoid touching your hands to your nose or eyes... I learned that working in a hospital.
Aside from droplet spread from a sneeze or cough, that's pretty the only way can infect yourself, through your eyes and nose.
"Usually when you're sick with a virus, your body builds up a defense system by making antibodies against it, so you don't get that particular virus strain again. "
2006-07-07 14:19:09 · answer #6 · answered by dave_martin_7777 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes the flu is common
2006-07-07 14:16:52 · answer #7 · answered by King Gene 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes...you can catch it again.
it's not normal to recatch the same strain. You shouldn't get sick again until you get another strain of the flu.
2006-07-07 14:18:02 · answer #8 · answered by liljomo1234 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. I once got it three weeks in a row. I actually had it every damn saturday, lol. Just keep washing your hands and try to stay away.
2006-07-07 14:15:57 · answer #9 · answered by Jennifer N 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In a year yes, otherwise no, by the way take a shot so you don't get it again.
2006-07-07 14:17:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋