FLU POLL... sort of..

[relsoft]

yea influenza can kill you

Yeah, the virus worries me. A lot.

Here's the scenario:

Almost all viruses are self-limiting and you get autoimmunity afterwards. Don't tell me you had 2 attacks of chicken pox. ;*)

But the influenza virus constantly mutates itself so that it could infect the same person again.

What if the same virus mutates into a SARS-like, life threatening virus? No immunity, no drugs to cure you. Remember the Hong-kong chicken flu scare? We were lucky guys.

[Rhiannon]

yea influenza can kill you

Almost all viruses are self-limiting and you get autoimmunity afterwards. Don't tell me you had 2 attacks of chicken pox. ;*)

Actually a lot of them mutate rather quickly, like the common cold. That's why there is no vaccine for it, and you cant get immune to it, just have a high defense against it. Also it is possible to get chicken pox twice if, say, you got it when you were a baby, and after some years (20, 30) you can possbly get it again if you are around someone who has it in the infective stage, and if your immune system is somewhat weakened. People infected with AIDS are highly likely to get it again.

And getting chicken pox after youre a baby is a horrendous experience.

[relsoft]

It ain't called chicken pox no more then, shingles I think.

[Rhiannon]

rel are you on crack(ers)? shingles and chicken pox arent the same thing

[relsoft]

Nope, they are called shingles here. ;*)


Dunno in yer country. ;*)

Is your shingles a nerve problem?

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medi...s_Shingles

OMG!!! Just remembered I never had ChickenPox.

[Rhiannon]

Shingles:

What is shingles?

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a viral infection of the nerve roots. It causes pain and a band of rash that spreads on one side of your body. Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Once you've had chickenpox, the virus lies dormant (inactive) in your nerve roots. If it becomes active again, it causes shingles, not another case of chickenpox.

What causes shingles?

Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in your nerve roots. In some people, it stays dormant for the rest of their lives. In others, the virus can be reactivated when the immune system is weakened, possibly by disease, aging, or stress.1

That's what shingles is here, but chicken pox is just the fever and itchness all over.

[Zack]

Rel: You've probably had Chicken Pox, you just don't remember. I had it when I was 2 or 3, and I have no recollection of it.
If possible, ask your mother/father. They'll tell you. :wink:

[relsoft]

I've asked. 10,000 times already. But no, nothing. ;*)

[Anonymous]

Shingles:

What is shingles?

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a viral infection of the nerve roots. It causes pain and a band of rash that spreads on one side of your body. Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Once you've had chickenpox, the virus lies dormant (inactive) in your nerve roots. If it becomes active again, it causes shingles, not another case of chickenpox.

What causes shingles?

Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in your nerve roots. In some people, it stays dormant for the rest of their lives. In others, the virus can be reactivated when the immune system is weakened, possibly by disease, aging, or stress.1

That's what shingles is here, but chicken pox is just the fever and itchness all over.

ewww!!! get it off mee get it off me!!!!

that is weird though... i wonder what else is in my 'nerve roots'

[toonski84]

If you take the flu shot it'll help, but the flu changes every year. It's tough to make a vaccine, they to identify and remove antigens and crap that your immune system can identify, and reproduce it on a large scale. Usually the flu shot doesnt cover every type, but this year was especially bad, the vaccine only being effective 40% of flu types.

They give out flu shots in America too, but this year the vaccine's in such short supply they stopped doing it right after it was released.