We spoke with Dr. Nisha Thampi about the biology behind viruses and Covid-19. Dr.Thampi is an infectious disease specialist who works at The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). She looks after kids with complicated infections and helps curb the transmission of infectious diseases throughout the hospital.
Q: What happens to the human body when it is infected by a virus or a bacteria? How do they make you sick?
A: When infected with a virus, our bodies respond using our immune cells. The responses that our immune cells give off are responsible for the symptoms that we experience. These symptoms depend on what area of the body has been infected and is what makes you “sick”. For instance, if the infection is in your lungs you might have a cough, but if it’s in your stomach, you might experience pain or vomiting.
Q: Why is Covid-19 so different from the regular flu?
A: People with the flu usually show their symptoms a couple of days after being infected. People with Covid-19 might only show their symptoms anywhere from 5 to 11 days after they have the virus. So, someone might be infected with coronavirus but it might not be obvious that they are carrying the virus until a few days later. And in that time, they could have infected a whole bunch of people.
Q: What information should children and adults know about staying safe when it comes to viruses and other infectious diseases?
A: Coronavirus is mainly transmitted through the droplets generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The droplets are too heavy to hang in the air and so fall onto surfaces and the floor. Soap is like virus kryptonite and is extremely effective for getting a virus off your hands. So, wash your hands frequently, particularly after touching objects that have been handled by a lot of people.
Don’t touch your face! If the virus is living on your hands and you touch your face, it will then be transmitted to your face where it can easily get inside to infect you.
Social distancing is extremely effective at stopping the spread of a virus. Staying six feet away from someone will help make sure that if they sneeze or cough or anything like that, the virus won’t get on you.
- Avery Parkinson
We spoke with Dr. Nisha Thampi about the biology behind viruses and Covid-19. Dr.Thampi is an infectious disease specialist who works at The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). She looks after kids with complicated infections and helps curb the transmission of infectious diseases throughout the hospital.
Q: What happens to the human body when it is infected by a virus or a bacteria? How do they make you sick?
A: When infected with a virus, our bodies respond using our immune cells. The responses that our immune cells give off are responsible for the symptoms that we experience. These symptoms depend on what area of the body has been infected and is what makes you “sick”. For instance, if the infection is in your lungs you might have a cough, but if it’s in your stomach, you might experience pain or vomiting.
Q: Why is Covid-19 so different from the regular flu?
A: People with the flu usually get sick and show their symptoms (fever, runny nose, cough etc.) a couple days after being infected. It is usually obvious when they are contagious. Having symptoms limits the spread of a virus because people take steps to protect themselves and others. A lot of people with Covid-19 never show any symptoms or might only show symptoms well after they have been infected. So people can be contagious and spread the virus to a lot of other people without anyone realizing it. Covid-19 is also different from the flu in that we do not have a vaccine to protect our most vulnerable populations and we don’t yet have very good treatments for it.
Q: What information should children and adults know about staying safe when it comes to viruses and other infectious diseases?
A: Coronavirus is mainly transmitted through the droplets generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The droplets are too heavy to hang in the air and so fall onto the surfaces and floor below. If you touch a contaminated surface and then your face, you risk infecting yourself. Soap is like virus kryptonite and is extremely effective for getting a virus off your hands. So, wash your hands frequently, particularly after touching surfaces or objects that have been handled by a lot of people.
Don’t touch your face! If the virus is living on your hands and you touch your face, it will then be transmitted to your face where it can easily get inside to infect you.
Social distancing is extremely effective at stopping the spread of a virus. Staying six feet away from someone will help make sure that if they sneeze or cough or anything like that, the virus won’t get on you.
- Avery Parkinson