Eli5 if disease’s want to live in a host’s body without being discovered, then why do they have such nasty symptoms that can be used to easily identify and destroy them?

Question

Eli5 if disease’s want to live in a host’s body without being discovered, then why do they have such nasty symptoms that can be used to easily identify and destroy them?

In: 106

Answer 1

Our bodies cause the symptoms. Not the virus directly. Your immune system is trying to eliminate a “contaminate.”

Think about how you can also get a runny nose from pollen that isn’t a threat. Your body only thinks it is, and creates the symptoms.