Doc in Training Learn Medicine with a Medical Student

I Am Sick

On Friday, I played basketball with several friends. Being out of aerobic shape, I was short of breath by the end of the game.

On Saturday, I woke up with a sore throat. I thought nothing of it and went to a review session (class on Saturday!) but became increasingly feverish over the day. By night, I had a full-blown fever with chills and a raging sore throat. I slept throughout the night and had some delirious dreams as typical of a fever, and I woke repeatedly in the night.

Today I rose perfectly fine, a mild sore throat but no fever. I was surprised by this as I had never developed and resolved fever so rapidly. Like a proper medical student, I began reaching from my (limited) knowledge. We had learned in immunology that when the immune system fights off an infection, the next time it sees that disease the response is much swifter and fiercer. Maybe that was what happened? Did the basketball play have anything to do with it, perhaps increasing respiratory distress?

Usually I tell people (my parents especially) that I haven't been sick in years and that I'll be fine in flu season. Can't be quite so smug now.