1 year, 7 months ago
via health-qna.com
When is a cough contagious?
How contagious is coughing? Are only some coughs contagious? How can I tell if my cough is contagious? How long is a cough contagious?
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M$1 Answer
Coughing is contagious because when you cough, you spray mucous which contains germs. Most illnesses that are contagious cause coughing (colds, the flu, sinus infections etc.). Most illnesses that are not contagious (ear infections, allergies etc.) do not usually cause coughing. So chances are good that if you're coughing, you're contagious.
How contagious a cough is depends on what kind of illness you have and how you're treating it. If you have an infection caused by bacteria and get an antibiotic for it, you will not be contagious after being on the antibiotic for 24 hours. If you have a virus, you will be contagious the entire time you are coughing.
To keep your germs from spreading to others, cough into your elbow, not your hand. That way your hands stay clean. This is an old trick health care and food service workers use to prevent the spread of disease.
From WebMD.com
-quote
Many coughs are caused by a viral illness. Antibiotics are not used to treat viral illnesses and do not alter the course of viral infections....Coughs occur with bacterial and viral respiratory infections.
-endquote
How contagious a cough is depends on what kind of illness you have and how you're treating it. If you have an infection caused by bacteria and get an antibiotic for it, you will not be contagious after being on the antibiotic for 24 hours. If you have a virus, you will be contagious the entire time you are coughing.
To keep your germs from spreading to others, cough into your elbow, not your hand. That way your hands stay clean. This is an old trick health care and food service workers use to prevent the spread of disease.
From WebMD.com
-quote
Many coughs are caused by a viral illness. Antibiotics are not used to treat viral illnesses and do not alter the course of viral infections....Coughs occur with bacterial and viral respiratory infections.
-endquote
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