What is flu, what is a cold – and is man flu real? We explain | liammannix, Catriona Nguyen-Robertson
We’re fast approaching the start of flu season – it officially begins in June – and Australia could be set for a big year.
The genetic material hijacks the cell, forcing it to make new copies of the virus. The virus then uses another protein, neuraminidase, to snip those new viruses out so they can go and infect other cells. A flu has all these symptoms – although a runny or blocked nose is more likely if you have a cold – but they are much more intense and last longer. A flu lasts about a week on average after the first symptoms appear but you may feel tired for several more days. A cold generally lasts for a few days to a week.
Colds also have glue, and target the same cells in the throat and lungs, although they stick to different molecules.It starts replicating. The virus injects its genetic material into a cell and tricks the cell into copying it. Your own cells start to produce large numbers of viruses, which then travel through the bloodstream to infect other cells. Soon your body is filled with hundreds of millions of copies of the virus.But you won’t feel sick right away.
What about sneezing? Sneezing is not caused by your immune system. The virus is actually designed to trigger sneezing, even though it's not necessary, so it can spread itself via the droplets you sneeze. B cells produce antibodies that predominantly target a virus’s scissors and glue. The antibodies neutralise the influenza viruses so they become non-functional and tag them for attack by other cells. T cells, on the other hand, are capable of directly killing virus-infected cells.Together, these cells attack and kill the virus.These are the cells your body will use to fight back. Once the match has been made, these specific B and T cells multiply to produce an army that can fight the infection.
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