Is a cold virus an active virus or a hidden virus?

Answer 1

Active. It will go directly to find a host cell and begin the steps of the lytic cycle to cause the host's cell to replicate the virus (see the related questions for more about the lytic cycle). It does not stay "dormant" inside you to manifest symptoms later. An infection will produce symptoms right away if you are infected. Then, once new viruses are made in the host cell, they will burst out and infect more cells and potentially more people.

Answer 2

Not exactly. Cold viruses are all over the place, you are breathing them in right this second. The reason you don't get sick is that your immune system gets rid of it.

When you are dared to wear a tank top in the snow (true story for me), the extreme cold weakens your immune system just enough for the cold viruses to get inside your body and make you sick.

Answer 3

A cold sore is a herpes virus. It is found in the nervous system and can remain hidden or latent. When hidden it is not active. When reactivated the sore becomes seen again. Shingles acts the same way.

Answer 4

The common cold is in fact an active virus. Once the certain virus has infected a new host it immediately begins multiplying within the cells of the new host.

Answer 5

What is called a cold is an active virus. It is because you show symptoms within 12 hours of infection. If it were latent, it would cause a disease for months even years.

Answer 6

A cold is an active virus.