Contagiousness Before & During Symptoms: What You Need to Know

Question
Is it true that your more contagious 2 week before symptoms show (like a cold or flu)? You less likely to get other people sick while your symptoms show?

Answer
Stacy,

Depending on the illness (virus).  For example there is an incubation period, you may be contagious during that time especially if you run a low grade fever.  That is bad, because you are sometimes unaware and can pass things around.  During the acute phase, with elevated fever, the virus is shedding and you are probably most contagious.  So you can also spread viruses while you are "sick".  With the resolution of the fever, the virus is usually not shedding and this you are least contagious.

JP Saleeby, MD
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