Viral load, please explain like I'm 5

[ReceiptsAreSweet]

The research being done suggests that the infection from this virus, unlike other ones, is more potent if you get it from more than one different source and/or more than once, is that right? I've read similar on here.
And that's why social isolation could work.
I'm just trying to make sure I understand fully because I've got a Facebook page directed at helpong others understand and it is becoming quite popular.

news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-what-is-viral-load-and-why-does-it-matter-for-covid-19-11963393

Does this help?

Thank you @bamboo yes it does. More or less what I thought but would have struggled to articulate.

It's more that as soon as you pick up a virus it starts replicating, you have to have a certain amount of it before you feel ill.

At the same time your immune system is gearing up to deal with it but that takes time.

If you have only a few viral particles to start with they will take longer to replicate to the point you are ill, if you pick up a lot in one go then it won't be long until you are ill and your immune system won't have had long enough to get ready to fight it effectively.

Also lots of people's immune systems are less good anyway so are effectively slower at responding which is why those people (old, diabetic etc.) Are more likely to be very ill.

I believe it to be like, if you went to the supermarket and picked up 5 virus particles off the trollies.... you might also go to ICU and pick up 10,000 virus particles from the air, the surfaces etc. Someone visiting the ICU would be subject to a larger viral load than the supermarket visitor.

The more viral load the higher the chance of getting sick and the higher the viral load the worse the illness can be. Such as, when the second sibling gets chicken pox it’s can be worse than the first.

Bit of a ramble that.

Helpful link and explanations, thanks. I think it helps reassure me I’m doing all I can and the reasons why we are doing things

Mm. For a 5 yo, I think it would go like this (I realise the OP is not 5, I just liked the challenge):

You and a friend (Covid-19) are playing. CV19 has a bag of flour and they will win the game if they manage to cover you in flour. You have one very good dusting brush though.

Case A - low viral load: CV19 only manages to send a couple of handfuls on you, your dusting brush is enough for that, you win, they lose.

Case B - CV19 manages to send lots of handfuls of flour on you. You are dusting away but soon your dusting brush is no use. You are covered in flour. CV-19 wins, you lose (and you need to hoover = going to hospital for breathing help).

Now of course, some people have no brush (immunosuppressed) or some with lots of brittles missing (other health conditions) so the game is not in their favour so they must avoid playing with CV19.

Your are standing still and your friend has a pack of flour.
If you manage to dust off all your flour, you get to remove the bag of flour from your friend, and you have won the game (you are healthy and immune).
If you don't and you are covered in flour,

Brilliant analogy!

Thanks. I meant to cut off the end. Here is it again minus typos too.

Mm. For a 5 yo, I think it would go like this (I realise the OP is not 5, I just liked the challenge):

You and a friend (Covid-19) are playing. CV19 has a bag of flour and they will win the game if they manage to cover you in flour. You have one very good dusting brush though.

Case A - low viral load: CV19 only manages to send a couple of handfuls on you, your dusting brush is enough for that, you win, they lose.

Case B - High viral load: CV19 manages to send lots of handfuls of flour on you. You are dusting away but soon your dusting brush is no use. You are covered in flour. CV-19 wins, you loose (and you need to hoover = going to hospital for breathing help).

Now of course, some people have no brush (they are immunosuppressed) or some with lots of brittles missing (they have other health conditions). The game is not in their favour so they must avoid playing with CV19.

Thank you so much everyone especially @awesomeaircraft
That will be a great help :)

Have a read of this thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3859971-Viral-load-can-someone-explain