The most likely explanation, among minor ones are the hormones. Estrogene is totally different to testosterone. The first activates the immune system and forces a fast answer to infections. The second, testosterone in men, does the oppostite.So it's simply biological, a womans body has to protect the child, a man, useless as we are, has to take care of them as long as possible. It is exactly the same reason why the elderly get hit so hard. The immune system is weaker and reacts later, the virus can spread and the virus load becomes to much for weaker systems. Estrogene btw. is also for the same reaction reason why woman are getting way more often autoimmune diseases.
