Why is it that nuisance ailments such as a cold are so annoying? I mean, if the cold virus was planning its attack strategy, it"s done a good job. I"m literally a fountain of infectious mucous, mostly originating in my sinuses and then running down my throat and nose.
Yet, I"m not sick enough to stay out of work (although it"s Saturday, and I think I"m going to go in to work if mowing the lawn doesn"t kill me, but nobody else will be there, and I didn"t get a whole lot done this week), so I can go and (theoretically... in the days before hand washing and anti-viral tissues) infect more people.
It is a perfect evolutionary strategy for a virus. After all, if it made people sick enough to stay home, that would limit it"s infectiousness to household contacts. As it is, people can wander about as they please and infect unsuspecting bystanders (like me!).
The rhinovirus is a magnificent feat of evolution.
However, I still don"t like that choking sensation as the phlegm drips down the back of my throat. Sudafed... Claritin.... Benedryl (at night), they all help, but there"s still no cure for the common cold (except maybe rest and fluids, but I"m not into rest!)
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