Different germs are spread in different ways. HIV does not live very long once outside the body. Sometimes germs can be spread through direct contact with open sores or wounds. Germs spread through contact with body fluids and secretions Intestinal tract infections spread through stool. Respiratory tract infections spread by coughing, sneezing, and runny noses.
People can spread disease causing germs without actually being ill themselves.
Most people who have a contagious disease have signs or symptoms of the disease. That is, they, or you, can tell they're sick. For this reason, it is essential that all body fluids or secretions from all children be treated as potentially contagious and able to spread germs. Of course, young children will sometimes get sick whether or not they are in a child care center. But, in a child care center, diseases spread easily because large numbers of children from different families spend hours together in one place every day.