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Do Immunocompromised people spread viruses just as easy?
I met someone at a regular social function. We get along well and have been going out to a local café once a week afterwards. Recently they were out for weeks and when they came back I asked them if everything was ok. They said that they are very immunocompromised, get sick rather easily and when they get sick it often lasts weeks or longer. Recently they told me they were going to a nightclub for hours. I didn't say anything but I am concerned.
I have the concern that if they catch viruses easily does this mean I will catch them or do non-immunocompromised have good protection against most viruses that immunocompromised get? Meaning do they spread all virus they acquire or just the ones that would be spread by other non-immunocompromised people.
Personally I am not liking the fact that they are going to a nightclub but that's their choice. I just don't want to catch what they night catch from them at out next outing.
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You might consider posing the question to your PC or a communicable disease expert. This is hypothetical (no doctorate in communicable diseases or stats); the risks of being close to a immunocompromised or average sick person would likely be the same if they both have, for example, the flu. Being immunocompromised means they are at greater risk of getting sick and perhaps being contagious for a longer period of time, not that they collect lots of different bacteria, fungi, virus, and whatever to share with others, regardless of if they are ill or well. Anyone that practices risky close contact with a lot of people has a greater chance of being ill. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8566017/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8220436/
To use another example, I used to call little kids germ bags (not to their faces) because their immune systems are fine, but they haven't been exposed to as many germs as we have so don't have the immune system memory. Once they are close to other tykes they catch colds and other afflictions to share with others. However, they share what they are sick with (and perhaps what is in their sticky hands), not everything that they have contracted through time. They are better at transmitting the germs because of higher bacterial/viral load while their immune system figures out the best attack, and close contact with family.
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2 Reactions@robertwills It seems each person is different, when it comes to passing on viruses. When someone is exposed to a virus or germs, their own general health can come in to play. This week they may be feeling a little punky due to a head cold, so their system may be a bit more inviting to something else. But last week they were doing good, and those same viruses and germs had no chance. So, in my non-professional opinion, it is a gamble every day. As far as you catching a virus or germs from someone else, the same goes as far as your general health that day!
As someone who is immunocompromised, I practice masking, keeping my hands clean, picking the people I am around, etc.
Ginger