🤧 Common Cold Immune Response Timeline Simulator

Rhinovirus Attaches to Nasal Epithelium

Placeholder: rhinovirus enters via the nose and infects epithelial cells.

• 1–3: Incubation period (days (placeholder))
• ICAM-1: Receptor used (majority of serotypes)
• ~1st wave: Cells infected (placeholder metric)
• Day 0: Onset (placeholder timeline mark)

Viral entry

Placeholder: virus binds receptors and enters epithelial cells.

Inflammatory Cytokines Trigger Congestion

Placeholder: infected cells signal the immune system via cytokines.

• IL-6/IL-8: Key cytokines (placeholder markers)
• Day 1–2: Symptom onset (placeholder timing)
• Bradykinin: Congestion driver (placeholder mediator)
• Increased: Vasodilation (placeholder effect)

Cytokine cascade

Placeholder: cytokines cause swelling and mucus production.

Symptom Severity Peaks Days 2–4

Placeholder: viral load and symptoms reach maximum intensity.

• Day 3: Peak day (placeholder average)
• Highest: Symptom score (placeholder scale)
• Peak: Viral titer (placeholder measure)
• 4+: Common symptoms (placeholder count)

Peak illness

Placeholder: congestion, sore throat, and malaise are strongest here.

Immune Cells Begin Clearing the Virus

Placeholder: neutrophils and macrophages clear infected cells.

• Day 4–5: Clearance start (placeholder onset)
• 2 main: Cell types (placeholder count)
• Rising: Antibody role (placeholder trend)
• Declining: Viral load (placeholder trend)

Active clearance

Placeholder: immune cells target and remove infected tissue.

Symptoms Resolve by Days 7–10

Placeholder: tissue repairs and symptoms fade out.

• Day 7–10: Full recovery (placeholder window)
• Possible: Residual cough (placeholder note)
• Serotype-specific: Immunity gained (placeholder scope)
• Other serotypes: Reinfection risk (placeholder caveat)

Recovery

Placeholder: epithelium regenerates and symptoms disappear.