Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Why do some people just not get it?

97 replies

Wednesdayafternoon · 20/03/2022 11:24

I've heard so many people not catch it from people in their house and the same seems to be happening in my house right now! My mum has Covid, we live with her, nobody else has caught it. The day before she tested we were on the car with windows shut for a good hour... I'm fine. I don't mean to sounds ungreatful, obviously I don't want to be unwell, but I just don't understand how some people just don't catch it?
Am I super human 🙈
Tbh a small part of me just wants it over with, the bigger part of me wants to be well obviously!

OP posts:
SpringIntoChaos · 21/03/2022 06:57

(Just to add, I've been testing twice weekly for about 18 months now, so I would have thought I'd have picked up on any asymptomatic symptoms?)

Sahgah · 21/03/2022 07:02

I thought the same as you OP been exposed so many times. OH and I both work in health all through the pandemic, I’ve cared for many positive cases same as OH and he also has used the tube throughout. My DD had it and we still didn’t get it. I’m pretty sure we hadn’t had it as we do PCRs at work and LFTs every shift. Felt like we just couldn’t catch it or had some immunity to it but then last week my OH caught it and I got it 2 days later and it’s hit us like a ton of bricks.
It’s a strange virus.

hellcatspangle · 21/03/2022 07:07

What is weird, is that I know people in the same situation as you, who haven't caught it in their own house. Then later they've managed to catch it elsewhere!

EricScrantona · 21/03/2022 07:16

I thought I was somehow magically immune as DH had it and even after very close contact I didn't catch it, I've been around it loads and never succumb... until last week and it's hit me quite hard. You'll have jinxed it with this thread and be ill within the next month WinkGrin

opensun · 21/03/2022 07:23

All of these people saying everyone in their house has had it except them... Have you had antibody tests?

Mindymomo · 21/03/2022 07:33

All 4 of us got covid recently, DS 26 has had so many close contacts and isolations and has carried on going out at weekends to pubs, clubs and nightclubs, weekends away in London, but up to now never caught it. His brother tested positive, then one by one we’ve all got it. DS2 at his work with over 50 people, they’ve only had a couple of cases, now there is only 7 in.

Silversprinkles · 21/03/2022 13:24

@BertieBotts

It's random chance, that's how random chance works, why do people not understand this? I don't see what is hard to understand about it.

You come into contact with a person who is infected, that means you might be coming into contact with virus particles they are shedding, or not. They might be shedding a lot or a little. Amount of time and proximity will make a difference to what you're exposed to. Also whether they are wearing a mask or coughing/sneezing on you.

If you did come into contact with virus particles, they might be transferred from the outside of your body and clothing to the inside of your body, or not. A few or a lot. Washing your hands, wearing a mask which is correctly disposed of will help prevent against this.

If the virus particles do get into your body, your immune system will fight them. It might be successful, or not. It's less likely to be successful if it's run down or busy fighting other things. It's more likely to get a handle quickly if it already knows the template from vaccination or previous infection.

Lots of variables and therefore random chance.

Well said.

I also haven't, to the best of my knowledge, ever had it. Despite family and work colleagues being positive. I do test regularly (for work) and never shown. I do think it's a combo of circumstances as outlined above.

Silversprinkles · 21/03/2022 13:26

Oh and I'm also one of those people who rarely pick up a household cold, even when dc was small and brought everything home from school.

Munkki · 21/03/2022 13:37

@opensun
When Dh and dc had delta we all did pcr and mine was negative. Also lfts were negative. I didn't have any symptoms either then or later on.

s1h2o3na · 21/03/2022 14:19

Despite having 2 kids at school, have never tested positive myself (yet) even when 1 child had it and myself being chronically ill and very prone to colds that tend to put me out of action for 3 wks or so. I've been really interested in this....have read research about cross immunity where if you have T cells because of previous (non covid) coronavirus exposure that might help tackle covid?? so 3 out of 4 in my household and 3 out of 4 in my sisters household have never knowingly had it despite omicron exposure. I haven't been careful as feel I would far rather catch it within a couple of months of my booster rather than 9 months down the line when the booster has worn off.

Munkki · 22/03/2022 11:50

I haven't jinxed myself yet. Rest of the family seems to have dodged omicron too.

Watsername · 22/03/2022 15:51

I have been exposed so many times (close contacts daily for weeks as I am a TA), and just never caught it….. until today Sad

I think it will get everyone eventually…

Rosehugger · 22/03/2022 15:54

I've not had it yet. We had someone test positive while in our house!

Since tests have been available we've always tested when we've been a close contact or have otherwise been required to or when we've had symptoms but none of us have had it. Unless we did early on before tests were available.

stuffnthings · 22/03/2022 16:37

We're on our 4th time of covid in the household over the course of 15 months and again I don't seem to be picking it up.

It's strange; I'm taking no precautions with DC but I am triple jabbed. I'm certainly not complaining or taking that for granted however.

I did read that they think that it is possible some people could have built up a bit of immunity from exposure from colds caused by other coronaviruses. Hopefully all the research that is going on will continue to improve treatments for people.

SpringIntoChaos · 22/03/2022 21:51

So...I was right...my time came today 🤦‍♀️ Definitely jinxed by this thread! 🤣

I knew it was only be a matter of 'when' though 🤷‍♀️

umpkj · 26/03/2022 13:52

I haven't had it yet but DD's classmate tested positive on Wednesday and now dd woke up with sore throat. She tested negative on lft but you never know.

Useyourfork · 27/03/2022 17:50

I believe it’s just luck due to a variety of factors, mainly the dose that you are exposed to.
Other things that may influence your susceptibility could be the amount of nasal mucus you naturally produce, slow or fast breathing rate?? How much and how loud an infected person is talking around you. Position of windows etc

yougotmehelpless · 27/03/2022 23:12

Me and DH have both had it twice but at completely different times. So weird

stayathomer · 27/03/2022 23:16

I had heard so many cases like yours but now possibly new strain, maybe not, is the opposite- tests positive then a few days later someone else, then maybe a week later someone else. In each case family is out working or in school because rules say they can and then bam! (At present there's 19 cases in the kids' school)

Hawkins001 · 27/03/2022 23:26

Im.presuming it's to do.with either your genetics e.g. Certain dna or rna markers, or it's antibodies that may help ? (All guesses)

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 30/03/2022 07:28

Well, I jinxed myself by commenting on the thread that I'd not had it despite lots of confirmed exposures. LFT positive at the weekend.

umpkj · 30/03/2022 08:56

Dd had cold and we tested once with lft. She was negative but you never know. She wasn't too I'll just throat ache and runny nose. Whatever it was I didn't catch it so I have managed to dodge covid.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread