It happens to the best of us. You wake up one day and you are completely man-down with a stuffy nose, fever and body aches. And now you need to message your manager and tell them that you’re the office’s patient-zero and face the guilt-trip from your colleagues.
Adults are contagious before they even realize they’re sick. The virus can spread from up to 24 hours before you start showing any symptoms (sneaky bugs!) and can spread for a further week after you are really in the thick of being sick.
This contagious period can last even longer for kids or people with weakened immune systems such as the elderly. That being said, you’re most contagious with the flu during the first three to four days after you begin feeling sick.
Is There A Way To Tell If You’re Contagious?
The best way to judge if you’re still contagious is timing. Because symptoms of the flu typically begin about two days after the virus enters the body (but could appear anytime between 1 and 4 days after infection begins), you should be particularly careful during your first week of symptoms. Meaning, stay home from work or school, if possible, and be careful to avoid direct contact with other people. Drink lot’s of water & make an appointment to see your practitioner if you’re worried about your symptoms and would like help to ease them and recover quicker.
I’ve also written a post with my favourite herbs to treat colds & flu, which you can read here.
Dr Kerry Haarhoff 