Inspired by this thread about virus, I remember a ‘factoid’ I heard a while ago. That there are 103 different strains of virus that cause the common cold. As with many viral infections, once a person’s had it, the immune system will recognize it it won’t hit you again. A kid who’s had rubella, measles or mumps won’t get it again, and as I understand it, it’s a good thing to get those as a kid, since adults suffer much worse from them.
Anyhow.
It feels like I’ve had a huge amount of common colds in my life. I’m not keeping track, but since I keep getting them, it must mean that each time, it’s a new strain, since my body is already immune to the ones I’ve had.
Or not.
So back to the factoid. Are there really only 103 strains? Does that mean that when I suffered through them all, I won’t get common cold anymore? And, subsequently, do older people get fewer and fewer common colds?