Do you know for how long you must take precautions after catching a virus, to avoid spreading it to others? For how long do you need to isolate yourself, wear masks when out in public, and be considerate of touching your nose and mouth?
When it comes to infectious diseases, understanding how long you are contagious after catching a virus is crucial for preventing its spread to others. Viruses like the common cold, flu, and more recently, COVID-19, have highlighted the importance of knowing the duration of contagiousness and taking appropriate precautions.
To know the duration till when a person is contagious after catching a virus, the team of OnlyMyHealth spoke to Dr Harish Chafle, Pulmonology and Critical Care, Global Hospitals, Parel Mumbai.
How Long Are You Contagious With A Virus?
“The contagious period and necessary precautions after catching a virus can vary depending on the specific virus. In general, you're typically contagious from the onset of symptoms until a few days after your symptoms have resolved. For some viruses, like the common cold or flu, you can be contagious a day or two before symptoms appear,” answered Dr Chafle.
Listing the duration of contagiousness of various viruses, the National Health Service, UK shared:
- Bronchitis: Usually caused by the same viruses as the common cold or flu, and lasts for as long as you have the symptoms.
- Chickenpox: From 2 days before the spots appear to until they have dried, usually 5 days after they first appeared.
- Common cold: This virus can transmit from a few days before your symptoms appear until all the symptoms are gone, which is roughly 2 weeks. However, the virus is most contagious after the first 2-3 days.
- COVID-19: You can spread coronavirus up to 10 days from the initial infection.
- Flu: You can spread the flu from 1 day before symptoms begin till 5 to 7 days afterwards. However, children and people with compromised immune systems can be contagious for longer.
Preventing Virus Transmission
“It's important to follow the specific guidelines and recommendations provided by healthcare authorities for the particular virus you have to minimise its spread to others,” advised Dr Chafle. He listed a few precautions:
- Isolate yourself from others, especially in the early stages of illness.
- Practice good hand hygiene by washing hands frequently with soap and water.
- Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, preferably with a tissue or your elbow.
- Wear a mask to reduce the transmission of respiratory viruses.
- Follow your healthcare provider's advice and adhere to recommended isolation or quarantine periods.
- Follow coughing and sneezing etiquette by coughing not on the palms but on a folded elbow so that your hands don't get infected and you don't spread this infection to the surfaces which we touch eventually like door knobs, taps, lift buttons, and computer keyboards.
- Teach younger ones in the family so that they will spread this and become responsible citizens.
In conclusion, understanding how long you are contagious after catching a virus is essential for curbing its spread. Stay informed and follow the latest guidance from healthcare authorities to contribute to the collective effort to mitigate the impact of contagious viruses.