All the articles that I’ve read about the cold and flu that mention wether or not being cold can cause it, have said that it can’t. But it seems harder to find information about pneumonia. I’ve come across two articles that mention wether or not being cold can cause pneumonia, and one said yes and the other said no. And neither of them explained why. Anyone know more about it?
Nope. You need to come into contact with the virus or bacteria.
Now others will be along to explain how right I am.
Damn, before I get slammed, I should have said, “You need to come into contact with **one of the bacteria or viruses ** that can infect you and lead to pneumonia”.
Usually, a weakend immune system opens the door.
I’m sure you’re right about these things not being caused by being cold but I’d like to play devil’s advocate for a moment. Is it possible that being cold and damp increases your susceptibility to these particular kinds of infections? Could, for example. being chilled lower your immunity? Or could cold air affect your nasal, sinus, etc. tissues making them more permeable or susceptible in some other way?
The daily immune system keeps it shut. Some days it just don’t pay ta post.
By the way, Nim, the spelling is “whether”. I know it sounds like a nitpick, but we all pride ourselves around here on our korrekt speling and attention to deta
Oh, TARTER SAUCE!
Weakened? 
Would being cold make you vulnerable? Well…cold air tends to slow down germs…and most infections happen inside in the winter…which is partly why some infections are more prevalent in winter ( everyone inside exhanging germs).
Being outside would be a good thing.
Heat stress, cold stress, if you’ve sent your body into shock by massively overheating or cooling, it’s going to have other things to deal with besides an incipient disease. You can’t very well kill off a flu bug with a little fever if you’ve just walked naked through a blizzard and let your core temperature drop to 93°.
[QUOTE=Philster]
Oh, TARTER SAUCE!
QUOTE]
That’s “Tartar sauce”…
(runs for cover)
One point to remember that pneumonia is not a specific disease, but more like a condition–or just about any condition in which fluids build up in the lungs. All sorts of things can cause that–and a US president (William Henry Harrison, about a month after taking office) actually died from pneumonia that started out as a cold.
There is no evidence that being chilled reduces immunological defenses. See this thread and the link to Cecil’s column within it.
Peace.
Not for minor chills, however there is evidence that cold stress messes with the immune system:
Delayed effects of cold stress on immune response in laboratory mice.
Acute cold stress induces suppressor macrophages in mice
HOW A LITTLE BIT OF COLD CAN KILL A VERY BIG MANATEE
Nice review here:
Human Physiological Responses to Cold Stress and Hypothermia
Stop asking silly questions and put your jacket on.