How LONG does it typically take for your body to produce antibodies against the cold and flu viruses?
Posted by Neodiogenes
It's generally very fast -- within a matter of hours if not minutes.
Posted by nitram
The first answer is wrong. Antibody production takes a few days at least, and sometimes up to 2-3 weeks. It takes something foreign from the virus for your white blood cells to recognize and mount a response of making antibodies. That's why they tell you when you get a flu shot that it won't prevent the flu for the next week or so.
Posted by Pepinos
The production of antibodies begins quite early but their concentration rises slowly at first. Peak levels are reached at 2 weeks approximately, for the "acute phase" IgM antibodies. In immunized patients this interval is markedly shorter and, by definition, circulating antibodies already exist prior to the second exposure to the antigen. Subsequently, when the antigen has been eliminated the IgM antibody concentration drops quite fast.
The other class of antibodies, IgG, rises a bit more slowly but persists for longer time.
What do you think? Answer below! Cold and Flu Basics - Cold and Flu Center - Gocoldflu.info
How to recognize the symptoms of cold and flu, which treatments work best, and advice on staying healthy during cold and flu season
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