How to guard against Chest Infections?

happycamper

This guy in work who sits very close to my desk has this really bad chest infection on him, and since I am after just clearing one up, I don't want to catch another, Any tips to protect myself?

John

Tell him to go home til it clears up.

happycamper

Lol. I barely speak to him so he would hardly listen. I'm just really worried as I don't want to go on anoter course of antibiotics so soon after the last.

John

Well try and wash your hands before eating as he'll be spraying nasty microscopic stuff all over the place. Make sure you get plenty of vitamin C and are well rested and not too stressed. That's about as good as you can do. Oh except maybe give him the hint by wearing those masks that you see people wearing on the news in bird flu/SARS affected areas

DrIndy

Influenza and other viral infections which affect the lungs are infectious. Bacterial infections are by and large not contagious as they are opportunistic after a viral infection (unless its tuberculosis - which very few people have). Just because someone is coughing is not significant. I would be more worried about someone with a viral infection sneezing as it spreads particles much more effectively.

Stop smoking and you won't get anymore infections.

Pet

Stop smoking and you won't get anymore infections.

Ha, you filthy hypocrite!!

I'm just really worried as I don't want to go on anoter course of antibiotics so soon after the last.

Maybe take some probiotics in the meantime to re-balance your system after antibiotics (and to prevent yeast infections too). And you could try things like echinacea drops and zinc lozenges too, they're good for your immune system.

Enii

Wipe down his phone/computer and desk with a disinfectant wipe and then do the same with yours, this will kill some bugs. Make sure there is anti-septic handwash in the bathrooms.

TempestSabre

Boost your own immune system. Vitamins, lots of sleep etc.

Kernel

You need to make sure your immune system is getting a good work out. Do this by being as unhygenic as possible. Try walking over to your colleague and french kissing him for a while, this may get you the infection, which your immune system can then go to work on, and be subsequently stronger.

DrIndy

Kernel wrote:

You need to make sure your immune system is getting a good work out. Do this by being as unhygenic as possible. Try walking over to your colleague and french kissing him for a while, this may get you the infection, which your immune system can then go to work on, and be subsequently stronger.

LOL! There is method in that madness, its better in general to get many infections when young as they have less serious side effects. Glandular fever when you are 6 years old is for most just a bad cold, but in an adult can be crippling.

Kernel

DrIndy wrote:

LOL! There is method in that madness, its better in general to get many infections when young as they have less serious side effects. Glandular fever when you are 6 years old is for most just a bad cold, but in an adult can be crippling.

Yes, plus it may improve your working relationship with the guy!

I got every infection when I was young.. measles, chickenpox... whooping cough was the worst though!

DrIndy

Kernel wrote:

Yes, plus it may improve your working relationship with the guy!

I got every infection when I was young.. measles, chickenpox... whooping cough was the worst though!

Your mum heard about the MMR scare?

Kernel

DrIndy wrote:

Your mum heard about the MMR scare?

No, she just hates me....

Seriously though, I think she did, I know she never trusted the MMR vaccination anyways, even now.

I'm not sure I trust it myself tbh, even with the results from the studies, there seem to be cases where children have gone rapidly downhill almost straight after getting the jab.