common cold incubation period, period of illness and contagious period
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.Print.he 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. Print.
Confidence votes 40.4K. The incubation period of the common cold is typically 36 to 48 hours, but, in some cases, symptoms can arise within 12 hours, or slightly less, of catching the virus.here are over 200 viruses responsible for the common cold. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the incubation periods for a few of the most common causative viruses involved with the common cold are: Rhinovirus: 2-7 days. Coronaviruses: 2-10 days.