Back at’choo

On p98 (January) you have Ron Eccles making the preposterous suggestion that a person with a cold should selfishly seek out hot, crowded conditions, such as cinemas, to ‘make themselves feel better’. Does it make people feel better to bring misery to innocent bystanders?

Brian Bonner, via email

I was quite astounded by Ron Eccles’ suggestion. In my opinion, anyone with a cold or health issue that is transmittable should stay indoors until they are better. Exceptions being back and forth to a doctor or to buy medicines. Not to enjoy oneself and spread the illness to others.

Brendan McDermott, via email

I take issue with Prof Eccles’ advice on dealing with a common cold and hope that I am not sitting near him when he visits the cinema to cheer himself up.

Dr Kevin Privett, Cowbridge, via email

Common colds are infectious for at least seven days and adults get between two to five colds a year. Infants and schoolchildren get many more, up to 10 colds a year.

If adults were to avoid crowded places such as work, sports events, public transport, etc. and children were kept away from school in isolation for a week every single time they had a cold, the world would come to a stop.

Of course, with severe illnesses such as influenza and COVID-19, self-isolation is intended to slow the spread of infection and may be effective. But colds are so common, and we spend so much time in crowded places, that isolation to prevent colds just does not work.

Prof Ron Eccles, former director of the Common Cold Centre