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For colds, most individuals become contagious about a day before cold symptoms develop and remain contagious for about five to seven days. Some children may pass the flu viruses for longer than seven days (occasionally for two weeks). How long are you contagious with the flu for? The influenza virus, also known as the common flu, is a highly contagious respiratory virus that affects all age groups. The virus has a different effect on every person, and symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening. A common cold and the flu are easily spread from person to person, the flu most often by droplets produced by coughing and sneezing. Cold viruses in droplets are spread mainly hand to hand. These droplets contain the infectious viruses. How long is a cold or flu contagious? Both colds and the flu are contagious and are caused by viruses. However, the viruses that cause colds (for example, rhinoviruses) are not the same as those that cause the flu (influenza viruses). Flu symptoms include: 1 Fever. 2 Chills. 3 Runny nose. 4 Headache. 5 Muscle aches. 6 Warm, flushed skin and watery eyes. 7 Weakness or fatigue. 8 Sore throat. With flu season making it's earliest start in years, and certain strains of the virus hitting unlucky Americans hard this year, it's important to be extra vigilant in your efforts to avoid catching it. I recently got this question emailed to me by a concerned viewer: Q: When is someone who has the flu contagious? Some people who are infected with the influenza virus can actually transmit the illness before they begin to feel any symptoms. Most of the time, you will become contagious about 24 to 72 hours after contracting the influenza virus and remain that way for up to five days after the onset of symptoms. But children or people with compromised immune systems can be contagious to those around them for up to two weeks. Trending in Health. 1 1 Newborn left in gym bag outside Atlanta medical facility. 2 2 Texas hospital forced to evacuate patients due to lack of water. 3 3 Ovarian cancer symptoms and warning signs. 4 4 Indiana man in a coma with confirmed case of West Nile virus. 5 5 Mom delivers baby inside amniotic sac en route to hospital. Most experts agree that adults with a cold or the flu start being contagious about a day before they start experiencing symptoms. For the flu, the contagious period then lasts five to seven days into the illness. For children, the contagious period for the flu can last up to two weeks after they start feeling sick, even if they start feeling better before that. The contagious period for a cold lasts about three to four days into the illness. As a general rule, people with a cold are most contagious about three days after their initial exposure to the virus. For more information on colds, influenza and related topics, check out the links on the next page. Top How Long Is a Cold or Flu Contagious Related Articles Aches, Pain, Fever Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 F (37 C), in practice, a person is usually not considered to have a significant fever until the temperature is above 100.4 F (38 C). How long is a cold or flu contagious? How will I know if I have a cold or the flu? How do cold and flu viruses spread? How will I know if I am cured of the flu or a cold? When should someone seek medical care for a cold or the flu? Query: how long am i contagious from the flu
The contagious period for the flu can last up to two weeks.