[nudephil (OP)]

We received the following from Lara:

I'm after a scientific explanation for why I'm still experiencing sneezing and a blocked nose after my coronavirus infection.

I tested positive on the 7th December after having mild cold like symptoms, possibly starting on the 4th. I thought I was over the mild symptoms but I'm still experiencing what seems like rhinitis: a tickly irritated nose like I'm about to sneeze, which I occasionally do, and also a blocked nose which I can blow out (started off clear but it's slowly getting a colour).

Am I still fighting the infection? I'm 22 weeks pregnant; does that mean my immune system is weaker? Or am I just not infectious at all, and it's just some post viral infection response?

Can anyone shed some light?

[alancalverd]

Symptoms traceable to COVID infection don't make headlines, but they do make misery, which is why it is so important to prevent its spread.

They can last for at least a year, and in 12 months' time we'll know if they can last for 2 years.

That said, having COVID doesn't protect you from any other infection that might provoke rhinitis.

[LaraL]

Thanks AlanCalverd. So I'm not infectious still, even though I'm still sneezing etc? Why is this? I think I've only had Covid rather than anything in addition, but working in a school that's hard to say!
Is sneezing post infection a thing, or is it only during infection when you're infectious?

[alancalverd]

You must be fairly new to teaching. By retirement age you will be immune to every disease, insult and trauma known to science, and have dealt with more violence and prejudice than any war correspondent or UN soldier. You will have a larynx like a sergeant-major and occupational hearing loss like a rock drummer. Meanwhile it sounds a lot like a common cold. Or a posh one if it's a feepaying school.

AFAIK the general opinion is that most people who recover from primary COVID are not infectious after about 4 - 6 weeks but reinfection is beginning to appear in a few cases, so the whole business can start again.   

[Bored chemist]

We received the following from Lara:

I'm after a scientific explanation for why I'm still experiencing sneezing and a blocked nose after my coronavirus infection.

I tested positive on the 7th December after having mild cold like symptoms, possibly starting on the 4th. I thought I was over the mild symptoms but I'm still experiencing what seems like rhinitis: a tickly irritated nose like I'm about to sneeze, which I occasionally do, and also a blocked nose which I can blow out (started off clear but it's slowly getting a colour).

Am I still fighting the infection? I'm 22 weeks pregnant; does that mean my immune system is weaker? Or am I just not infectious at all, and it's just some post viral infection response?

Can anyone shed some light?

The most likely answer is that (notwithstanding isolation) you got a cold.

If it's troubling you, you should speak to your pharmacist or doctor

[LaraL]

What a shame, I came on here for a bit of science behind the query but not got anything of the sort, seems the scientists are missing the purpose question...Mental note don't use this forum again!