Asymptomatic, could someone explain to me

[CakeHoleinRoof]

How such a nasty virus capable of killing healthy people can manifest itself by,well not doing, in some people?

And how do we know it does? Have some countries tested people with no symptoms?

Is it all down to viral load?

[justanotherneighinparadise]

I thought our blood type was great as we can give blood to anyone. I know I’ve always been made to feel like a hero for that lol.

[justanotherneighinparadise]

@rabbitsnose the increased risk isn’t much at all. I wouldn’t worry about it ♥️

[Chocolatefishandchups]

Also in one Italian town they tested all 3300 residents twice and managed to eliminate the virus (as you can only do once you can identify the asymptomatic cases unknowingly spreading it). Huge numbers of asymptomatic cases. I think the mayor made a statement in the end saying “for every symptomatic case there can be another 10 asymptomatic”). I will find a link. Similar with the cruise ship which had @ 50% asymptomatic positive cases. And many of those were in the older / more vulnerable age category.
Not sure why the media don’t pick up on/ report this type of information as bigger news. I assume focusing on all the fatalities gets higher viewing numbers. Also means people get a very skewed view on death rates, especially going on the U.K. verified positive cases which seem to be based on those qualifying for hospitalisation/ intensive care.

[HoffiCoffi13]

People can get greater or lesser symptoms... this isn’t unique to COVID19, it happens with many viruses.
DD1 caught chicken pox at nursery. She was absolutely covered and really quite poorly for 2 weeks. DD2 caught it off DD1, she had a grand total of 8 spots.
Both had scarlet fever last year. One badly, one mildly.
I really struggle with colds. DH barely gets a sniffle.
It would be more odd if everyone had the exact same severity of symptoms, as that isn’t typical of viruses.

[Chocolatefishandchups]

The first testing round, carried out on the town’s entire population in late February, found 3 per cent of the population infected, though half of the carriers had no symptoms. After isolating all those infected, the second testing round about 10 days later showed the infection rate had dropped to 0.3 per cent.

Importantly, however, this second round identified at least six individuals (out of 7) who had the virus but no symptoms, meaning they could be quarantined. “If they hadn’t been identified, the infection would have resumed,” explained Prof Crisanti.

[Chocolatefishandchups]

www.ft.com/content/0dba7ea8-6713-11ea-800d-da70cff6e4d3

[darktriad]

I can remember getting swine flu very mildly, as did many people.

[Chocolatefishandchups]

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/18/scientists-say-mass-tests-in-italian-town-have-halted-covid-19

You can obviously google to find more articles/ the actual study.

[Chocolatefishandchups]

My personal feeling is that once antibody testing is widely available, it will be demonstrated that tons more people have had this already than realise. And the death rate will be more like 0.1-0.5 (professor witty has stated his opinion that the fatality rate is closer to 0.1% rather than 1%). We will have to wait and see, but hopefully that will allow things to get back to normal more quickly.

[Confusedasusual78]

Is there a problem with Rhesus negative? That’s my mums, asthma too 😢

[MrsWx]

There is some early evidence that other vaccinations such as bcg may help, although most oaps would have had it but still fall very ill.

But if this is the case why is it not really affecting the younger generation? Did the BCG not stop over 10 years ago?

[WhoWants2Know]

No, there's no issue with being Rh negative

[goose1964]

My son in law is very interested in genetics and he's found evidence that people who have a significant amount of Neanderthal genes are less likely to suffer from viruses. He's doing forensic science specialising in biology so this won't be something he's not checked the sources .

[mocktail]

Most cases if flu are asymptomatic too. www.nhs.uk/news/medical-practice/three-quarters-of-people-with-flu-have-no-symptoms/

[milveycrohn]

The cruise ship, Diamond Princess had an outbreak and was quarantined for some time, which allowed for those in the incubation period to develop symptoms. They discovered that some did not get infected; some were infected with very mild symptoms, or asymptomatic; some were seriously infected and some died. I do not have the exact numbers to hand, but it was a closed environment so they count it separately.
As yet, they don't know why some people are very mildly infected, which is one of the things scientists are working on. It could be genetics, but they do not know. Currently, older people seem to get if worse, as do men, and possible those of BAME ethnicity. But they need more data to verify this.

[Devlesko]

I thought it was the A Rh+ that was being suggested to be worse, is this not true?
It would make sense as I have mixed race DNA, and more HCP who are BAME seem to be the ones dying.
Am I completely on the wrong lines?

[PuffinShop]

Hi from Iceland. The foreign media have seriously misinterpreted the '50%' statistic that many of you have seen.

It was 50% of people diagnosed by a biomedical research company. The other 50% had mild cold symptoms. This company are ONLY testing people with no serious symptoms.

Most confirmed cases are diagnosed by the healthcare system. Anyone with suspicious symptoms is tested by the healthcare system.

Moreover many of those 50% who were asymptomatic had been caught in the incubation period and did go on to become ill. This doesn't mean the testing is 'faulty' - catching cases early is a benefit of the research.

This graph shows the proportion of cases diagnosed by the healthcare system (blue) to the proportion diagnosed by the research company (orange). You can see that many media outlets have got completely the wrong end of the stick.

[heyjoeyitsestelle]

I'm not sure why you wouldn't believe it tbh?
Happens with all sorts of infections.
My son was hospitalised in January for a while with a blood infection caused by a bacteria. The same bacteria can be found in a high percentage of the population causing no issues at all, some may get a runny nose, some a mild ear/ sinus infections and then rarely- like my son- some get bacteremia and endocarditis (heart infection) and get severely ill.

Our bodies always have and always will react differently to different things.

[rosy71]

It was possible to get swine flu mildly. I remember everyone at work getting swine flu except me. I did have one day where I felt generally unwell and had a hot flushed face. When I heard about mild cases, I assumed that what I'd had. My children both later got it & I didn't catch it which does suggest I'd had it earlier.

[mrbob]

i'm very sceptical about this asymptomatic thing. Not sure I believe it at all

Well it is true. Whether you believe it or not. Why would you not? Why would scientists lie to you? Some people have mild forms of diseases, some severe. That is true for almost all infections. Apart from Ebola. That shit will kill you.

People get asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic infections all the time. You just don’t realise. And this just happens to be an infection with a huge spectrum of disease severity. It is not a conspiracy

[CakeHoleinRoof]

juliettango thank you. A link's a link where I'm concerned.

Okay twohopes Is that the same as the 'cytokine storm' information I've seen knocking about? My American Aunt told me about how the USA is quite focused on that part of things.


killjoys THAT, is where a lot of my scepticism comes from. I expected some of it at least was to do with the testing being done before or after symptoms.

boosey I am glad to not be alone in this thought.

sugarsugar I am not of this attitude because I'm an arrogant uneducated idiot. Yes, I am of 'not qualifications' (well I'm post grad educatied but in nothing like this subject!) I am of this attitude because I am a sceptic. I think a lot of people are clinging onto this hope because otherwise, the world would be worse. People would be a lot more frightened and would behave as such. I'm not into conspiracies and idiotic theories, but this one thing, I am struggling with. I really, truly hope I am wrong! Really do. This thread is making me feel better about it, and that I may be wrong. I guess I protect myself by thinking the worst.

Do you have a link about the Diamond Princess testing? Again, I can't help but thinking they were tested pre or post symptoms and/or if there were indeed those with no symptoms , they were a lucky (very) few.

pickleme thank you, I am going to go and find that.

Canstaycalm Okay. In that case, the theory that fit, healthy people can die from it makes sense. An over-zealous immune system?

chocolatefish okay good-I will look for a link on that or read one if you find one first. I read also on that ship, that one very elderly man had it, did have symptoms but nothing sinister, and stayed in a cabin with his wife, who didn't catch it. I will try to find that link too. Interesting.
Media-I guess yes, same as you've said, good news just isn't 'good' news is it?

hoffi yes that's very true. I struggle with colds too, very poorly with them. I've heard (word of mouth no link sorry) that with colds, there are so many slight variations of virus, and once youve had most of them you're more or less immune. Older people tend to not get them as bad or as often due to this. I struggle with colds too, really quite poorly with them and I'm quite fit. I run, lift weights, healthy weight, no illnesses etc.But a cold can put me on my ass for a week.

chocolatefish it won't let me read that without subscribing. But I believe you :) good to know. Will read the guardian one. I hope that's right.

Very glad I Asked the question now.

[CakeHoleinRoof]

Educated obviously. Although educatied should be a word.

[Jenasaurus]

I had just one spot when I had chicken pox and passed it on to my dad who was very very unwell with it and covered in spots, they only knew I had it when they saw the spot on my leg after my dad and sister then caught it. It is weird how we all get things differently and I would love to learn why this is

[Thecurtainsofdestiny]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52243605

This article explains why people react differently to pathogens (doesn't answer why about coronavirus specifically as research is still ongoing).

[Porcupineinwaiting]

Ds2 is asymptomatic. I was patient 0 in our house and have been pretty ill. Dh came down with it 7 days after me but mildly. I was self isolating in the bedroom but he couldn't, ds1 got it 7 days after him (again v mild), ds2 nothing. But he's been in a house full of it for weeks, no chance he's not been infected.