INMYVIEW... Catchinga cold could have its upside

THROUGHOUT my years working in healthcare, like clockwork on around the tenth day of the autumn term we start to see children pouring through the door, their parents seeking advice about complications of recently acquired colds, ear infections, tonsillitis, or sometimes just a persistent sore throat and temperature.

Two weeks later, the parents arrive with similar problems, their children having acted as vectors of the viruses.

On average, pre-school children have five to seven colds a year, and adults two or three. This year, I expected to see rates fall as a result of the measures taken since the onset of the Covid pandemic.

However, already I am hearing from patients, colleagues and friends that colds are abounding. This does make me query whether our new protective measures are as effective as we had hoped.

One couple I know have been shielding since March. They have very good medical reasons to do so and yet, now, somehow, both have sustained heavy colds.

Even the best strategies are not perfect, but there is no reason to throw out the baby with the bath water: every effort must be made to maintain social distancing, use masks properly and follow the relevant advice.

And if you do catch a cold, don’t despair — scientists at Yale are researching the idea that having a sniffle may help kick-start the immune system and offer some protection against Covid-19.

I’m not suggesting that you deliberately pick up a winter bug — but in such disheartening times, any good news is welcome.