Once someone knows they are sick and what they have, they often ask, am I contagious? Can I go to the gym, exercise, go to work, or will I infect others. Droplets in the air are responsible for spreading most respiratory illnesses including TB and Chicken Pox. Rashes are typically spread by touch or the parasite that caused the rash.
Am I Contagious with a Cold or the Flu?
Coughing or sneezing into someone’s face will spread the germs whether it is a virus or bacterial infection. Colds are often spread by hand to mouth activity. For example, covering the cough or sneeze with a hand and then shaking someone’s hand who then puts that hand to his /her face. Handling money from someone else’s hands will spread a cold. Using gym equipment after someone has sweated on it or held it with infected hands from coughs, colds, nasal discharge, will spread the cold or flu. Since antibiotics don’t cure a cold, the germs are still spread.
True influenza can be diagnosed by a rapid flu test or by the severity of the symptoms or demographics if a large part of the population. Influenza is actually contagious a day or 2 before symptoms appear.
Is Strep Throat Contagious?
Every sore throat isn’t a strep throat but every sore throat from a virus or bacteria can be spread to another person. The good thing about strep throat is once the person is 24 hours on antibiotics, they aren’t able to spread the bacteria. It can be spread up to 5 days before the person knows they have strept though or are medicated.
Sinusitis or Bronchitis is not Contagious in Themselves
The virus or bacteria that caused the infection would be contagious, but not the fact that it caused a sinus or lung infection in someone else. Some people are more prone to sinus infections and some, like smokers or asthmatics, may be more likely to progress to bronchitis or pneumonia. Similarly ear infections aren’t contagious.
Pink Eye Is Contagious
Pink eye is very contagious if it really is a bacterial pink eye infection. Eye irritations or red eyes from allergies aren’t contagious. Once treatment is started for bacterial pink eye or conjunctivitis, the person isn’t contagious after 24 hours.
Many Rashes Cant be Spread to another Person
There are many rashes that can be spread. The difficulty comes in not knowing what has caused the rash. If its an allergy rash, it cant be spread, if its part of the disease such as chicken pox, it can be spread during the active period before crusting happens.
Contagious rashes include the following
- Poison ivy while wet and weeping can be spread by touch
- Scabies can be spread by contact
- Ringworm is contagious.
Practicing good hand hygiene (washing hands frequently) often prevents spread of disease. Immunization is another way to prevent some infection spread. Antibiotics only work for bacterial infections. Find out about working out when sick with a cold or the flu.
References
Acute Sinusitis, Wilson, Ann Intern Med September 7, 2010 153.
Update in Dermatology Ann Intern Med July 17, 2001 135:124-132
Evaluation of a cold/flu self-care public education Accessed from the web 12/2010
This is how germs are spread. Dept of health NY accessed 12/28,2010
Amy Andersen - Amy Andersen, MSN, ARNP, family & pediatrics certified, practices yoga and explores the inter-relationships of mind body fitness and ...
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