India's first COVID patient gets reinfected: What are your chances of re-infection if you had a mild infection?

India's first coronavirus patient, a woman from Thrissur, Kerala has been tested positive for coronavirus again. The woman, who had been diagnosed COVID+ in the end of January 2020 is currently asymptomatic and recuperating at home.

While reinfection cases have become an increasing reality right now, health authorities have suggested that the woman's past 'mild' infection, much like many who have been reinfected with COVID could be because of the low levels of antibodies- possibly leading to a heightened risk for infection.

Despite the fact that the new mutations have been attributed to the rise in COVID-19 reinfection cases, it has been suggested that the people who have had mild, or barely noticeable symptoms of coronavirus could possibly be 'less protected' than someone with severe coronavirus. How exactly troublesome is the risk? We explain...

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It is said that most cases of coronavirus infection are mild in nature. In simpler terms, any case of coronavirus that doesn't require hospitalization, and gets better under self-care and home-based isolation is usually said to be milder. Symptomatically, it is also characterized as an infection where less than 5-6 symptoms are present (including dry cough, pink eyes, low-grade fever, fatigue, loss of smell and taste, nausea, aches, pains and headaches).

While a patient with mild COVID may have one or all of the symptoms, the intensity of these symptoms also tends to be on the lower side and could start to wane after a week or 10 days.

A fight with coronavirus provides the body with some level of natural immunity, or antibodies that protect the body from future infection. On average, it is estimated that a person who has contracted immunity could be the same from reinfection for upto 90 days (3 months mark), provided there are no comorbidities, conditions or risk factors that could lead to waning immunity.

However, as evidence has suggested, there's no fixed timeline as to how long a person who has already contracted COVID-19 is probably safe for the protective immunity in itself, could wary differently from person to person.

It should be remembered that for some, however, even a mild infection could grant lasting levels of immunity and offer them comparatively the same level of protection as a severe case probably could.

Analysis of cases from the second wave by the ICMR showcased that cases of reinfection accounted for at least 4.5 % of total infections. Not only are the reported cases high, it has become evidently clear how strong and scary variants are.

The immunity in itself, while remaining at its peak for upto 90 days, is said to start diminishing after that. The mutations of the new virulent strains could also easily surpass these antibody defences, causing infection. Therefore, there is an added risk from variants of the virus since they could easily overpower antibody defences and make a person get the infection again.

While milder cases heal relatively quicker, and could possibly have less strengthened immunity and waning antibodies after a while, it is also said that milder cases are more at risk for reinfection since the level of antibodies mounted could be lower, and hence, less protective by default.

This has been proven by some anecdotal evidence as well as case studies. Some preliminary research has also indicated that while even a mild COVID-19 bout could cause immune changes, the level of antibodies mounted post infection could be determined by the severity of the fever. Higher the fever, higher could be the antibody response and vice versa. This, primarily, could be the reason why milder cases may see lesser antibody production in comparison to a severe COVID patient- leaving scope for reinfection.

Similar risks exist for those who have barely noticeable, asymptomatic COVID infections.

However, do remember that while experts gather more data on the nature of infections, interpretations may also change. As studies have shown, even some mild COVID-19 cases could mount lasting immunity, while some do not. Therefore, the matter is subject to a lot of factors and health risks.

Currently, advisories suggest ALL COVID-19 patients maintain a 3-month gap prior to receiving the vaccine. However, considering the risks and the level of immune protection could offer, should someone with a mild infection get vaccinated earlier?

The answer to this could be both yes and no.

While experts currently debate on the time gap advised to patients who have contracted COVID-19, it would still be advisable to wait out for at least 2-3 months to get vaccinated, since this is the time natural immunity would also persist. Even if antibodies start to wane, do remember that the risks of reinfection could be lowest, or negligible in the first three months post recovery from the infection.

Unless and until you have specific immuno-suppressant conditions or health risks that put you at a heightened risk, or lead to faster-waning immunity than general estimation, it's still advisable to wait out the requisite time period to get vaccinated. Do remember to take your doctor's advice for the same.

Reinfection with COVID-19 is a bleak, but real possibility right now. Therefore, not only is it not the time to take our guards off, recovered patients should not be complacent in their approach at all. Remember, a fight with COVID-19 may impact your vital organs or weaken your immunity, hence, it's in your best interest to be extra cautious. The following preventive measures should be diligently practiced to mitigate and minimize risks of reinfection:

-Follow social distancing and wear masks appropriately

-Avoided crowded, poorly ventilated spaces

-Keep up with all the prescribed medications given to you

-Incorporate immunity and vitality-strengthening diet and lifestyle habits.