if I eat straight out of, say, my peanut butter jar now (while I have a cold) might I get it again from myself later (when I'm better)?
2006-10-02 14:58:04 · 9 answers · asked by cedar 3 in Health ➔ Other - Health
Not likely~. Did you lick the knife and then stick it back in the jar. Technically you would have had to introduce saliva into the jar. I would be more concerned about passing the germ onto someone else.
Generally a germ (viral) such as you are speaking only lives about 72 hours outside it's host.
Once you have recovered from an illness you usually have built up a short immunity from being re-infected if not you would never be well. You could get reinfected from your sheets, pillows, towels chair where you sat etc.
Hope that helps!
2006-10-02 15:05:13 · answer #1 · answered by Medical Teacher 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so. Some 200 + viruses cause the common cold. With each one you get your body builds up antibodies to them. This is why younger people get more colds than older people. So if you eat out of the peanut butter at a later date your immune system will be able to knock out that particular virus and you won't get sick. I'm an old hag of 37 years and have been around people with colds and sometimes I don't get them. It's probably because I've already had a cold from that particular virus.
2006-10-02 15:10:06 · answer #2 · answered by DawnDavenport 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually when sick you develop an immunity to the strain of virus that you contract, therefore there is only a small chance of contaminating yourself, unless the virus evolves in the peanut butter and you catch a different strain of the same bug, but you could contaminate others.
2006-10-02 15:06:28 · answer #3 · answered by stilettopanda 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That depends: How long can a virus and/or bacteria live outside the human body in peanut butter.
I am going to go now, and ponder this for the rest of the night....
2006-10-02 15:06:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess u can re-infect youreslf.
But I think its very unlikely because your Immune system is in high alert for the germ that just infected ya. And if u keep reintroducing that germ its just gonna get killed over and over again.
Unless it mutates, or you have a weak immune system.
2006-10-02 15:06:59 · answer #5 · answered by Johnny 531 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hey, and don't double dip with the spoon! Haven't you heard about how contaminated used Kleenex is, and how your supposed to throw out immediately and not reuse. That's why we don't use a "hanky" anymore.
2006-10-02 15:08:00 · answer #6 · answered by mld m 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can re-infect yourself. Just like when someone is sick they should buy a new toothbrush afterwards. Germs can stay quite a while.
2006-10-02 15:00:34 · answer #7 · answered by Rena 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
yes. ever hear of this thing called a spoon?
2006-10-02 15:11:09 · answer #8 · answered by cici 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes you can, try using a spoon NOT your fingers
2006-10-02 15:00:59 · answer #9 · answered by bobbie21brady 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋