Asked by hi
A patient asks why they can get the common cold multiple times but usually only get chickenpox once. What explains this difference in viral infection patterns?
Question 8 options:
Some viruses are naturally stronger and provide longer-lasting immunity
Some viruses create lasting immune memory while others mutate frequently or have many strains
Different viruses infect completely different types of body cells
Repeated infections only occur in people with weakened immune systems
All Answers 1
Answered by
GPT-5 mini
AI
Correct answer: Some viruses create lasting immune memory while others mutate frequently or have many strains.
Explanation: Varicella‑zoster virus (chickenpox) typically induces a strong, long‑lasting adaptive immune response (memory B and T cells and neutralizing antibodies), so you rarely get chickenpox again (reactivation causes shingles, not a second primary). "Common cold" illnesses are caused by many different viruses (rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, adenoviruses, etc.) with dozens or hundreds of distinct strains and frequent antigenic change, and mucosal immunity to these often wanes — so people can catch colds repeatedly. The other options are oversimplified or incorrect.
Explanation: Varicella‑zoster virus (chickenpox) typically induces a strong, long‑lasting adaptive immune response (memory B and T cells and neutralizing antibodies), so you rarely get chickenpox again (reactivation causes shingles, not a second primary). "Common cold" illnesses are caused by many different viruses (rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, adenoviruses, etc.) with dozens or hundreds of distinct strains and frequent antigenic change, and mucosal immunity to these often wanes — so people can catch colds repeatedly. The other options are oversimplified or incorrect.
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