Why is it that it takes me about a week to get over the flu and it takes my eldest son about 2 to three days to get well? Are our immune systems different from one person to the next?

People do respond differently to viral infections.

As you say, the state of your immune function is key and in general, young adults will get over an infection faster than someone from say the age of 40 onwards. Of course, diet, lifestyle and stress are factors which also play a part.

Something else to consider is that certain viruses just take a bit longer to shake off. It is not clear to me if your son has had the ‘same virus’ as you have, but we know that some types or sub-types of viruses can be more persistent than others. 

Please see my blogs on 'How can diet boost our immune system?' and 'How to boost your immune system' for some tips and advice on keeping your immune system healthy.

I hope that this information is helpful to you. Best wishes.

Dr. Jen Tan