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The Risk of Infection: Q&A
Are colds more common in the winter months?
Yes. Colds are caused by viruses, and viruses have an easy time of it when the body's warmth balance is upset. So although being cold does not in itself trigger a cold, it does facilitate the invasion of germs.
When I sneeze I put my hand in front of my mouth. That's right, isn't it?
As children we are taught to put our hand in front of our mouth when we sneeze. But the fact is that we then use the affected hand to touch door handles, keyboards, cups etc. There is a serious risk that someone could become infected as a result. It's a better idea to sneeze into a tissue that you then dispose of immediately. If you don't have a tissue to hand, use the crook of your elbow to catch the sneeze. You can do the same when coughing.
How long can viruses and bacteria survive?
Viruses can survive for a few hours as a rule. Bacteria keep going for considerably longer. They are everywhere: on door handles, on keyboards, on the bus... And with every sneeze a few million germs are expelled into the air. But this doesn't mean you should don a respiratory mask and disposable gloves before leaving the house. Thousands and thousands of viruses are needed for us to catch a cold. Regular hand washing is the best way to help prevent infection.
Courtesy WALA Heilmittel GmbH: January 2014
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