Is cough contagious and how to avoid infection from a sick person?

The disease develops due to viruses or bacteria that actively multiply in the body. They are the ones who cause respiratory diseases.

The main source of infection is a sick person. For this reason, it is important to take protective measures immediately after the first signs of illness appear.

You can get sick from viral diseases if your immune system is weakened and if there are a large number of pathogens in the air. Once on the mucous membrane, the virus begins to multiply, and in one day its number reaches 16 million.

But the development of the disease may not occur, since a strong human immune system is able to quickly find and neutralize the pathogen.

From cold and hypothermia, the body's defenses weaken, and a cold develops due to the intensive proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms.

If this happens, then care should be taken to ensure that healthy people do not become infected from the sick person. Colds can also appear in the presence of chronic infections.

Contagiousness degree

In the classical interpretation, a cold is a disease caused by cooling the body. That is, the person froze, and subsequently he developed malaise, a runny nose, a sore throat, and possibly a fever. The reason for this condition is a decrease in immunity and activation of one’s own opportunistic microflora. Which, by the way, absolutely everyone has.

Is someone with a cold dangerous to others? No, unless these people are immunocompromised or at risk.

Another question is that people commonly call any illness that occurs with a runny nose, fever and cough in a clever way - a cold. ARVI, sore throat, herpes infection, even influenza often fall into this category.

All of these diseases have a specific pathogen, not opportunistic, but quite contagious. Some diseases are transmitted faster, and the immune system is practically powerless against them. For example, the flu.

Others only cling to weakened people.

In general, if we delve into the topic of contagiousness, then every person is contagious. Scientists say that the adult body is inhabited by about 100 trillion single-celled organisms. More than half of them are pathogenic. However, under normal conditions they do not harm us. Moreover, without bacteria, human existence is impossible in principle.

Length of infectious period

Even taking into account the fact that a person is only relatively contagious with a cold, he can transmit the disease only at first, when intense mucus secretion occurs and a cough is observed. On days 2–7, immunity suppresses the activity of pathogenic microorganisms. That is, after the acute symptoms disappear, the cold ceases to be contagious.

Residual effects do not pose a threat. The patient may still blow his nose for a long time in the morning and cough up to 5 times a day. In this way, the mucous membranes are renewed, dead cells that were previously infected and destroyed by immune forces are removed from the body.

At the same time, we must not forget that a common cold can develop into ARVI, pharyngitis, sore throat, and other respiratory tract diseases. An infection easily attaches to a weakened person. In this case, the infectious period increases.

According to the table of Dr. Komarovsky, ARVI: rhinoviruses, influenza, parainfluenza, parawhooping cough, adenoviruses, reoviruses, respiratory syncytial viruses can be transmitted.

There are the following patterns of progression of the respiratory diseases under consideration:

• incubation period from several hours to 15 days - the patient is not contagious;
• incubation period 1–2 days before the first complaints - contagious;
• duration of illness (up to 10 days) – contagious;
• after the disappearance of complaints (up to 3 weeks, more than 50 days - depending on the pathogen) - the infectious period.

The most dangerous cold is 1–2 days before the onset of symptoms and several days after. During this period of time, the virulence of viruses is at its highest.

A cold is contagious if it is caused by infectious agents that infect the body, entering it not only through the air during sneezing and coughing, but also through household items or through a kiss.

1. Can a cold or flu be transmitted to a healthy person through food? With a viral or bacterial disease, the infection enters through the nose, mouth and eyes. In a sick person, pathogenic microorganisms are contained in the saliva; they remain on dishes and food. In other words, you cannot eat from the same plate with the patient, drink from the same glass, or use the same cutlery.
2. Is a cold without fever from hypothermia contagious? Patients may respond differently to infection. Often you have to deal with the following manifestations:

• chills, fever;
• cough, runny nose, sneezing;
• headache, muscle and joint pain;
• Sometimes nausea, intestinal upset and vomiting occur.

There are situations when, with a cold, the body temperature does not rise. This does not mean that the patient is harmless to another person.

In his nasal and oral cavities there are a huge number of bacteria, which, when sneezing or coughing, are dispersed into the air and are inhaled by healthy people.

To understand whether a cold is contagious, you need to understand how it differs from the flu. You can get a cold due to hypothermia.

When body temperature decreases during hypothermia, the body's protective reaction weakens, and pathogens present in the body of each person multiply, exceeding the permissible norm.

The result is a cough and runny nose, but a mild illness can develop into a serious illness. This disease is not considered particularly dangerous, but during pregnancy it poses a serious threat to the fetus.

Infection can trigger the development of congenital pathologies. To prevent complications, treatment should begin immediately after the first signs of the disease are detected, even if the temperature remains within normal limits.

Ways of spread of infection

A cold is most often called a respiratory disease that can be transmitted through airborne droplets. In this case, the cold is transmitted by coughing or runny nose. Tiny particles of viruses or bacteria move freely in the air.

Some people are interested in whether it is possible to catch a cold from another person on the street. In this case, the risk is reduced because the infection spreads at a distance of up to 2 meters from the patient.

Accordingly, a healthy person can get sick if he is close to him in a closed room.

People also often wonder how else the cold is transmitted, what transmission mechanisms still exist. You can become infected through household means, that is, through common objects. This happens rarely, since the pathogen is unstable in the environment.

The most dangerous transmission mechanism is contact. But this does not mean that colds are sexually transmitted.

During contact transmission, the following occurs: during the process of sneezing or coughing, a person covers his face with his palms, touches his eyes or nose, and pathogens remain on his hands.

They are transmitted by touching objects or another person. Infectious agents easily penetrate mucous membranes and affect the respiratory tract.

Risk group

As noted above, colds cling to weakened people. The following categories of the population are at risk.

1. Pregnant women. Hormonal changes and changes in the body associated with fetal development lead to weakened immunity. The first trimester is considered the most dangerous in terms of infection.

2. Newborns and infants up to 6 months. The most vulnerable group that lacks its own immunity. Protection against bacteria and viruses is provided mainly by maternal antibodies that enter the baby through milk.

3. Children under 5 years old. Until about this age, children develop a stronger immune system that helps them resist pathogens.

4. Persons with serious chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system, lungs, kidneys, and other systems and organs. Any significant deviations in the body’s functioning negatively affect the immune system and increase the risk of infection.

5. Elderly people over 60 years old. As a rule, at this age a person already has chronic diseases. For this reason, diseases take hold more easily and are more severe than in youth.

6. People with weakened immune systems. Any recent illness, poor nutrition, or stress can lead to a decrease in protective forces. Impaired immune status is caused by chronic hepatitis, HIV infection, autoimmune diseases, and malignant neoplasms. In addition, there is congenital primary immunodeficiency syndrome caused by genetic abnormalities.

Factors that contribute to infection

Some of the main conditions for the development of the disease include:

• penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the respiratory system;
• weak immunity during seasonal exacerbations;
• factors contributing to the development of infection (for example, hypothermia).

Cold pathogens are transmitted through the mucous membranes of the nasal and oral cavities. This is the optimal environment for the proliferation of microbes.

In the external environment, the infection spreads through sneezing and coughing, which are the body’s reaction to irritation of the mucous membrane. A person with low immunity who is next to a sick person turns out to be powerless against bacteria.

It is important to start treatment at the first signs of the disease; only a doctor can choose the right regimen.

A cold is transmitted from a sick person:

• through sneezing and coughing;
• when using common household items, for example, towels, dishes, telephone;
• when shaking hands (contact method);
• in close communication, through a kiss;
• in public places (transport, kindergarten, educational institutions, store, hospital).

Preventive measures in case of contact with a patient with ARVI

A cold is a result of exposure to cold. That is, the first reason to suspect this pathological condition is an external factor that is stressful for the body.

It can occur from hypothermia, draft, drinking cold drinks, or less often from overheating. In this case, the symptoms will be mild.

A common cold occurs without fever or with a slight increase in temperature, weakness, lethargy, runny nose, sore throat, and cough.

What symptoms refute the diagnosis of a cold:

• sudden onset of the disease, without freezing or other stress factors;
• high body temperature;
• severe nasal congestion, profuse or purulent rhinorrhea (runny nose);
• the presence of rashes on the body, mucous membranes of the throat, mouth;
• dry, hacking cough;
• chest pain;
• diarrhea, vomiting.

In case of such complaints, it is recommended to consult a doctor. The patient's surroundings, in order to avoid infection, can begin taking antiviral drugs.

Many people go on diets in spring and autumn, but this is precisely what can trigger frequent colds. This is due to the fact that the body does not receive enough vitamins and minerals, as well as calories. All this together leads to the body’s vulnerability to various colds.

During the seasonal period of colds, you need to drink as much fluid as possible. Plus, include in your diet foods that contain a sufficient amount of vitamin C. All this will strengthen the immune system.

• Many people can get a flu shot, which can reduce their chance of getting a cold.
• From birth, you need to harden your body to make it easier for it to cope with various colds.
• Products that need to be included in the diet during an exacerbation of colds:

• tea with ginger;
• honey and bee products;
• garlic;
• lemon.

Preventive measures

To protect yourself during an epidemic or when communicating with sick people, you need to take some precautions:

1. You can protect your respiratory system from viruses by wearing a gauze mask in public places. After contact with a patient and for preventive purposes, it is recommended to frequently rinse the nose and use an ointment containing oxoline.
2. Hygiene is one of the mandatory points of prevention. You need to wash your hands often and treat them with a special disinfectant, especially after visiting public places. If there is a sick person in the family, you should provide him with individual hygiene items, bedding and dishes.
3. The patient should be asked to cover their face with a tissue or napkin when coughing or sneezing. This rule is also important to teach children.
4. Try to have less contact with sick people. During a seasonal epidemic, it is not recommended to visit places where there are many people. If a family member becomes infected, it is necessary to place him in a remote room, which should be regularly ventilated.
5. You need to systematically carry out wet cleaning at home. It is important to use disinfectant solutions for cleaning.
6. To stabilize the immune system, you need to eat right, take multivitamins, drink herbal and berry decoctions.

Doctors advise following other recommendations on how to avoid catching a cold:

• get a flu vaccination;
• Every day you should drink at least 2 liters of water;
• lead an active lifestyle, play sports, walk in the fresh air;
• stop smoking and drinking alcohol. Nicotine and ethyl alcohol impair the functioning of all organs, which reduces the body's defense response. When drinking large amounts of alcohol, the liver does not cleanse the blood well, which leads to the accumulation of large amounts of toxins in the body;
• If signs of a cold appear, it is better to take sick leave for a few days and get treatment.

It is important to follow these rules not only during seasonal epidemics, but also to prevent various colds.

Precautionary measures

Prevention of colds is of great importance, especially in the autumn-spring season. To prevent infection of loved ones, and also not to get sick yourself, you should adhere to standard rules.

1. Maintain personal hygiene. It is better to wash your hands with bactericidal soap. In addition, you should try not to bring them to your nose or mouth.

2. Wear a gauze bandage when in close contact with other people (for sick people).

3. Eat right, eat seasonal vegetables and fruits every day.

4. Eat onions and garlic - they kill pathogenic microflora, stimulate blood circulation and increase immunity.

5. Upon arrival from the street, immediately change into home clothes.

6. Regularly change bed linen, ventilate the room and carry out wet cleaning.

7. If there is a risk of infection, as well as the sick person himself, it is worth carrying out hygiene of the nasal cavity several times a day - irrigating the mucous membrane with aerosols with sea water or rinsing with saline solution.

8. Maintain a sleep and rest schedule, eliminate worries. Stressful situations and chronic fatigue have an extremely negative impact on the immune system.

9. Toughen up, dress according to the weather, and be physically active.

It is impossible to say exactly how many days a cold is contagious. If the disease is caused by viruses, then it can be transmitted both before the first complaints appear and after complete recovery. A disease caused by one’s own opportunistic microflora against a background of weakening of the body is, as a rule, not contagious. The exception is those cases when a person from a risk group comes into contact with the patient.

Source: https://onsmeta.ru/zarazitya-prostudoy-bolnogo-cheloveka/

Is it possible to get infected from a patient with tracheitis?

Is tracheitis contagious to others, in which the inflammatory process is localized much deeper - at the border with the lower floors of the airways? How safe is communication with people with tracheitis for others? Is it possible to be in the same room with them?

Types and clinical forms of the disease

Depending on the nature of the agent initiating the inflammatory process, the following types of tracheitis are distinguished:

• viral;
• bacterial;
• allergic;
• fungal, so-called tracheomycosis.

Epidemiological characteristics of tracheitis

Not all types of the disease pose an epidemiological danger. Fungal and allergic forms of the disease are not contagious.

The threat of infection is relevant only when in contact with patients with viral and bacterial tracheitis. The causative agents of these forms of the disease can be transmitted from person to person. The occurrence of tracheitis of viral etiology is provoked by:

• virulent strains of influenza and parainfluenza;
• groups of adeno- and rhinoviruses;
• respiratory syncytial and coronavirus viruses;
• causative agents of rubella and measles.

Children very often experience tracheitis caused by strains of enteroviruses with a respiratory form of clinical manifestation. People's susceptibility to all ARVI pathogens is almost universal. But the most vulnerable population in terms of infection are young children, the elderly, old people, patients with chronic illnesses, immune defects, and severe metabolic disorders.

Attention! Viral forms of tracheitis are highly contagious; they are easily transmitted from the patient to surrounding people.

The occurrence of bacterial tracheitis is a consequence of the proliferation of conditionally and actively pathogenic microorganisms in the body of a potential patient:

• families of staphylococci and streptococci;
• pneumococci, Klebsiella, Moraxella;
• Haemophilus influenzae influenza.

Initiation of an infectious-inflammatory process by a conditionally pathogenic flora is possible with the weakening of local tissue barriers and a general decline in the body’s immune forces.

Important! Bacterial tracheitis is low-contagious; infection from a patient is possible only if basic preventive and sanitary measures are not observed.

An example of non-infectious damage to the trachea is fungal and allergic tracheitis. The occurrence of an allergic form is associated with sensitization of the patient’s body. Tracheomycosis develops as a result of active reproduction on the mucous membrane of the organ of representatives of two genera:

• Candida – conditionally pathogenic yeast-like fungi;
• Aspergillus - mold fungal colonies.

Candida as saprophytes are present in the microflora of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. Aspergillus enters the respiratory tract when breathing contaminated dust particles.

The emergence of tracheomycosis in humans is initiated by the influence of external negative factors; a weakening of the immune system becomes a favorable soil for its development.

On a note! Infection with aspergillus and candidiasis tracheitis from a patient is impossible.

Possible routes of infection

The reservoir of infection in tracheitis is the patient; the direct cause of infection is pathogens, viruses or bacteria released when coughing.

The source of infection is considered to be the smallest particles of tracheal mucus, distributed to the patient in the form of airborne droplets.

The entry gates for the penetration of an infectious agent are the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs of the people around him.

Infection from a patient with tracheitis is possible during direct and indirect contacts. The most possible routes of infection:

• through airborne droplets distributed to patients;
• through contaminated household items and hygiene items.

The first method of infection is most typical for tracheitis of viral etiology. It is relevant both for direct contact with a coughing patient, and for indirect contact, when the air of an unventilated room infected with it is inhaled by people who come after some time.

Many microorganisms that cause tracheitis are resistant to environmental influences.

For example, influenza viruses remain viable outside the cells of the human body for three weeks, during which time the threat of infection remains relevant.

From an epidemiological perspective, being in a confined space after being visited by a coughing person is no less dangerous than direct, direct communication with a patient who is actively releasing infectious microorganisms into the surrounding air.

Of no less epidemiological importance is the contact or household method of infection. It is carried out in cases where the patient, wanting to prevent the spread of infectious agents, covers his cough with his palm. At this moment, many microbes, which are saturated with microdroplets of tracheal mucus, settle on the working surface of the hand. There are then two possible ways of spreading the infection:

• Tracheitis pathogens spread through touch to objects most often used by others - door handles, tabletops, chair backs, tableware and stationery;
• Infectious agents are transferred directly to the palms of other people when shaking hands.

After this, only one movement separates others from becoming infected: if they touch their face with an infected hand in the area of ​​the lips, wings of the nose, eyes, or rub the eyelid, the pathogen will be transmitted.

How to avoid infection with tracheitis

The simplest way to protect yourself is to avoid contact with sick people.

But in the cold season, when the incidence of respiratory diseases reaches its peak, it is almost impossible to avoid communicating with people who sneeze, cough and blow their nose.

Even very careful people who extremely limit their time in public places have to come into contact with sick people who spread germs and viruses around them. How and with what can you protect yourself and your loved ones from infection?

It is quite possible to avoid infection with infectious forms of tracheitis, first of all, by observing the simplest sanitary and hygienic measures, which means:

• frequent washing or treating hands with antiseptics;
• avoiding touching your face with unwashed hands;
• regular ventilation and wet cleaning using disinfectants;
• treatment of household items and working and contact surfaces with antiseptic solutions.

If a person with tracheitis appears in the family, it is advisable to minimize contact with him. If possible, he is isolated and provided with separate dishes and household utensils.

To prevent the spread of infection, the patient should use disposable paper napkins or handkerchiefs and wear a medical mask.

In addition to basic quarantine and sanitary and hygienic measures, the following preventive measures can reduce the threat of infection with a respiratory infection causing the development of tracheitis:

• specific;
• nonspecific.

• Specific prevention is carried out through vaccination; it reduces the risk of infection with influenza or other infections, and in case of infection, minimizes the severity of the course and the possibility of complications of the disease.
• Nonspecific the use of medications that increase the human body’s resistance to infections. The range of modern pharmacies is rich in drugs for the prevention of acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections:

• interferon-containing and antiviral agents;
• vitamin complexes;
• bacterial lysates;
• immunomodulators of plant origin.

In addition, there are time-tested means and methods of traditional medicine, such as eating fruits and berries rich in vitamin C, and using the healing power of phytoncides of garlic and onions.

Important! The choice of drug for prophylaxis should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist.

Conclusion

It is possible to prevent infection with tracheitis only with a careful and consciously rational attitude towards health, your own and those of loved ones.

Implementation of preventive measures to avoid contracting a respiratory infection, adherence to the tenets of a healthy, active lifestyle and a nutritious diet, allow not only to avoid an unpleasant disease, but to ensure a high-quality standard of living and the safety of the family budget.

Source: http://ingalin.ru/traxeit/zarazen-li.html

Tracheitis: is it contagious, how to avoid getting sick, precautions

Tracheitis is an infectious inflammatory disease of the upper respiratory tract, which, when occurring in an acute form, poses a threat to the patient’s environment. You should be especially careful in the fall and winter; it is during this period that the question does not arise whether tracheitis is contagious or not.

It can be viral or bacterial and affects absolutely everyone.

People with low immunity, working in public places, preschoolers, and the elderly are most susceptible to it.

What type of tracheitis is contagious?

The disease is dangerous in its acute form. When it enters the chronic stage, the viruses “fall asleep” and do not threaten the patient’s environment. The causative agents of the disease become especially active on the 3rd day after the first symptoms appear in the patient. At this time, they can be easily transmitted from one person to another.

Infection with the virus usually occurs through shared utensils, bed linen, and towels. A very common direct route is airborne. To do this, others need to have close contact with the patient - a kiss, a conversation, a handshake. The largest number of bacteria is found in saliva.

Viral tracheitis is mainly acute and therefore develops quite quickly.

The bacterial form is less dangerous than the viral form. For a person to get sick, only close contact is needed - a kiss or eating from poorly washed dishes on which the saliva of an infected person remains. The causative agents of the disease are dangerous until it becomes chronic and subsides. With proper treatment, it occurs 7-10 days after the activation of the viruses.

Chronic tracheitis is not contagious, since at this time the virus “sleeps” in the human body. But it can be activated at any time, during hypothermia or low immunity.

The patient's sputum and wet cough indicate that he is no longer a carrier of the infection. These symptoms appear at the end of the incubation period, 5-7 days from the date of diagnosis. After a week, you can safely contact this person without the risk of becoming infected.

How does infection occur?

The danger is posed by a dry cough, which releases the “culprits” of the disease into the air. But it must be taken into account that most often it bothers patients at night or early in the morning, when the person is resting and not talking to anyone. Therefore, healthy people need to avoid the sick person until lunch at a minimum.

Viral tracheitis can occur against the background of ARVI. It is transmitted before the first symptoms appear, within a week. Proceeding in an acute form (fever, chills, severe cough), the infection becomes inactive.

But this is only if the patient is treated correctly and in a timely manner.

In the absence of therapy, the virus continues to “rage” in the carrier’s body, and then acute tracheitis is contagious to absolutely all healthy people.

The bacteria that cause the disease die quickly in the air. They can only exist in the human body. But it is still necessary to regularly ventilate the air in the room and do wet cleaning.

Infection is almost impossible with a handshake, talking at a short distance (with a double gauze bandage) and through well-washed dishes. If it does occur, the person may develop concomitant diseases. These include:

• laryngitis;
• pharyngitis;
• angina;
• ARVI;
• sinusitis.

All this makes it much more difficult to make an accurate diagnosis.

Prevention measures

Here are some tips for those who suffer from tracheitis:

• Minimize contact with healthy people.
• When talking with others, you must wear a thick medical mask.
• When coughing and sneezing, you should cover your mouth and nose.
• During the first 7 days of illness, it is best not to leave the house (during the incubation period).

To protect themselves, healthy people should avoid contact with sick people, at least until the main symptoms have passed. The dangerous stage of the disease can be determined by their condition. A person may experience:

• chills;
• heat;
• severe cough that prevents you from breathing normally;
• general weakness;
• hoarseness that occurs with concomitant diseases (laryngitis or pharyngitis).

Children and the elderly must be protected from contact with the carrier of the virus. Representatives of these age categories often have reduced immunity, which increases the risk of infection.

But everyone else should also be careful - constantly improve their health by taking vitamin-mineral complexes and immunomodulators, and do not avoid vaccinations.

This should be done especially during epidemic periods.

You can safely contact people whose tracheitis occurs in a chronic form (without obvious symptoms). Their saliva contains the virus, but it is inactive and dies immediately when released into the air.

To reduce the risk of infection it is recommended:

• temper yourself regularly;
• exercise;
• walk more in the fresh air (in parks and forests);
• go to bed on time;
• avoid stress;
• Avoid contact with chemicals.

Heavy smokers, whose immune systems are very weak, should also be wary of tracheitis. Under no circumstances should they come into contact with the patient, even if they both have medical masks. If infection occurs, so that the disease does not pass from an acute to a chronic form, you should give up the bad habit.

The conclusion is obvious - tracheitis is contagious, but bacterial tracheitis is not as dangerous as viral tracheitis. However, it is easily transmitted from person to person only during the acute stage, which is characterized by a dry cough, fever and some other symptoms. The chronic form does not pose a threat to a healthy environment at all and in this case the patient need not be afraid.

Source: http://VseProKashel.ru/traxeit-zarazen-li-on.html

How long is a child with a runny nose and cough contagious?

How often can you see children with a cough and runny nose on the playground or in kindergarten. Mothers of healthy babies are indignant, since children with signs of acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections can be contagious. This leads to disputes and quarrels.

Pediatrician Anastasia Starostina brings clarity to the question of how long a child with a runny nose and cough is contagious.

Most often, a cough and runny nose are a symptom of ARVI, explains the doctor. — Isolation of the virus occurs within 7-10 days, for adenovirus the period is longer, up to 12-14 days.

Nasal discharge without congestion can last up to 14-21 days. With each week the discharge is less and less frequent. The cough lasts up to 3-4 weeks. It turns out that virus shedding is complete, but the cough/runny nose continues.

A snotty and coughing child is active, has a normal temperature, his nose breathes well, he feels good, his appetite is the same. Such a child does not pose a danger or threat to a group of healthy children.

In terms of infection, people are most dangerous 2-3 days before the onset of the disease and in the first 3-4 days after the onset of ARVI, emphasizes pediatrician Anastasia Starostina.

And since caring mothers strive to protect their children from potential infection, pediatrician Olesya Butuzova recommends regular nasal rinsing.

This is a good remedy for the prevention of acute respiratory diseases.

Cleansing the sinuses has the best effect using a water-salt solution, which you can buy at the pharmacy or prepare yourself at home.

Runny nose in a child: myths and reality about treatment

Recipe for making saline solution

For 250 ml of water you need 1 level teaspoon of salt. The water should be at room temperature so as not to cool or overheat the mucous membranes. After preparing the solution, taste it - it should be soft and similar to the taste of sea water. After checking, you can start washing.

The solution for children under 3 years of age should be especially soft, so take 1 liter of water for 1 teaspoon of salt.

Use regular salt, not iodized salt, as it can cause irritation of the mucous membranes, dryness, and discomfort in the child's nose.

Do you walk with your child when he has a runny nose or cough?

All photos: Depositphotos

Source: https://www.baby.ru/journal/rebenok-nasmork-kashel/

When is a coughing child not contagious?

We often see children coughing on the playground or in kindergarten. Why in most cases are they not as dangerous as we imagine?

Coughing is a protective-adaptive reflex that allows a person to clear the airways of irritants (for example, sputum, nasopharyngeal secretions, etc.) and foreign bodies (dust, pieces of food, etc.).

Most often in children, a cough occurs during an acute respiratory viral infection and can persist for quite a long time after, but in addition to an acute respiratory viral infection, a cough can be a symptom of an allergic reaction, chronic congenital or acquired diseases of the upper respiratory tract, as a manifestation of gastroesophageal reflux disease, or be a symptom of a disease of the ENT organs, heart or neurological problems.

• Let's look at the most common acute respiratory viral infections, typical for the autumn-winter period.
• 1- Influenza (Isolation of the influenza virus practically stops 5-10 days after the onset of the disease, and its maximum content was determined on the 2nd day after the onset of the disease)
• 2- Parainfluenza (Virus isolation is maximum on the last day of the incubation period and 1-3 days of acute infection)
• 3- Adenoviral infection (Often causes complications caused by the addition of a microbial infection. Isolation of adenoviruses lasts on average 7-12 days and stops, as a rule, even before the end of the disease)
• 4- Rhinovirus infection (Isolation of rhinoviruses lasts no more than 5-7 days)
• 5- RS viral infection (The duration of virus shedding does not exceed the duration of clinical manifestations. Typically it is from 3 to 6 days)
• 6- Reovirus infection (The pathogen persists in the upper respiratory tract for 7-10 days, in the intestines it can last up to 4-5 weeks) 

All these infections have one thing in common - damage to the respiratory tract.

The source of infection is a sick person and a person on the last day of the incubation period (usually). Since all acute respiratory viral infections affect the respiratory system, the mechanism of transmission of infection is predominantly airborne and airborne, but for rhinovirus and adenovirus infections, contact transmission is also possible - through water and household items.

ARVI pathogens are spread by talking, coughing, and sneezing. The maximum amount of the pathogen is contained in the large-droplet phase of the aerosol, which is emitted by the patient or carrier within a radius of 2-3 meters.

When the settled droplets dry out, a large number of pathogens die, but, nevertheless, a significant part remains and can re-enter the airspace of the room and infect others.

The duration of survival of pathogens in the external environment while maintaining virulent properties depends on environmental conditions and for most ARVI pathogens, including influenza viruses, varies from several hours to 7–12 days.

A sane mother would not take a child with a fever to kindergarten, so as a rule, children, although coughing, appear in kindergarten a week after falling ill and are safe for others.

You are much more likely to get sick when you ride in an elevator (poorly ventilated, enclosed space) or come into contact with door handles, intercom/elevator/work phone buttons. A week after the onset of the disease, if there are no clinical manifestations, the child in most cases is not contagious.

Moreover, in practice it is not possible to identify the causative agent of an acute respiratory viral infection every time (it is unlikely that you will undergo laboratory tests aimed at identifying the virus every time). And it still won’t be possible to isolate those who sneeze and cough from society unless you never leave the sterile room.

1. Your task is to teach your child to cough correctly (see image)
2. What, as a rule, causes a cough that persists (sometimes for quite a long time) in children of toddler and preschool age?
3. As a rule, such a cough is associated with secretion (mucus) formed in the upper respiratory tract (adenoid tissue, posterior wall of the pharynx, tonsils, trachea).

If, after suffering from an acute respiratory viral infection, a child’s cough occurs after physical activity or in a horizontal position (during or after sleep), it is most likely associated with excess mucus draining from the nasopharynx cavity and is not contagious for other children. Taking into account the physiological characteristics, in children the lymphoid tissue (adenoids, tonsils, posterior wall of the pharynx) quickly increases during ARVI and takes a long time to recover after the disease.

Therefore, treat a coughing child relatively calmly, excluding cases of prolonged hacking cough, dry cough with vomiting, cough with a lot of sputum.

I would also like to draw your attention to the fact that if your child is in a group with a child who coughs OFTEN or CONSTANTLY and the child is under the supervision of a doctor who has allowed him to attend kindergarten, do not screw yourself and the other parents.

A doctor will never give approval to an infectious child (especially one with negative tests for tuberculosis) to visit a preschool institution.

Perhaps this baby has a chronic or genetic disease, when coughing is one of its components and does not pose a danger to others at all.

I work with children with cystic fibrosis (CF) and, unfortunately, the absolute lack of understanding by other mothers of the nature of cough in patients with CF makes the kids outcasts, and the parents of other children splash out a bunch of negativity on the mother, who already hears a lot of “flattering” words in your address.

Be more tolerant, more tactful and respect yourself first of all in dialogue.

There is no need to shout at the mother of a coughing child: “Stay at home with your sick child!” Try to clarify: “Is your baby healthy? Is coughing his specialty? Since cough is a symptom that accompanies many non-communicable diseases, including.

All the best and health!

You can read about the basic rules for preventing infections by following the link https://cfdoctor.ru/?p=37

Source: https://CfDoctor.ru/?p=611

Is it possible to get infected...with a cough? - Is cough contagious?

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Is bronchitis transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person and in what cases is it contagious?

There are many reasons for the occurrence of the inflammatory process in the bronchi. Taking this into account, speaking about the disease as a whole, it cannot be unequivocally stated that bronchitis is always contagious. But in some clinical cases such an outcome is quite likely.

It is important to understand that bronchitis is a complication of ARVI, that is, it is caused by pathogenic microorganisms that are released into the environment when coughing and sneezing, and are also transmitted through the hands.

Is the disease contagious to others or not?

Whether bronchitis is contagious or not to others is the first thing that worries many when they are given such a diagnosis. Pulmonologists and therapists argue that we can talk about contagiousness only if the pathology is infectious in nature.

Viral form

Even people without medical education have little doubt whether viral bronchitis is contagious. It is obvious that this disease is transmitted from sick to healthy people. Often this pathology is provoked by the following viruses:

• · coronavirus;
• human respiratory syncytial virus;
• · rhinovirus;
• · metapneumovirus infection;
• · flu.

In this case, pathogens do not immediately enter the branches of the windpipe. First, they colonize the areas of the nasal passages, causing rhinitis. Next, the upper part of the windpipe is affected, as a result of which pharyngitis or laryngitis is diagnosed. If therapeutic measures are not taken at this stage, the risk of developing bronchitis seriously increases.

Viruses are responsible for 85–95% of cases of acute bronchitis.

Bacterial form

Whether bacterial bronchitis is contagious or not is also rarely in doubt. The main pathogens of the disease include: staphylococci, pneumococci, streptococci, Haemophilus influenzae and whooping cough pathogens.

Together with particles of discharge, bacteria end up on dishes or towels used by a sick person. If a healthy person uses the same objects, then pathogens enter his body.

But he does not immediately become infected with bronchitis, since these bacteria become part of his microflora.

Laboratory tests of sputum released during coughing help identify the causative agent of bronchitis.

The role of immunity

Why some colds turn into bronchitis and others do not is not always easy to explain. But most often this is due to the type of virus and human immunity. The following categories of people are especially vulnerable:

1. organ transplant survivors;
2. · taking immunosuppressants;
3. · geriatric patients over 65 years of age;
4. · pediatric patients under 2 years of age;
5. · those suffering from chronic diseases (diabetes, asthma, COPD).
6. Bronchitis is less common for people who promptly support their immunity, which has been weakened as a result of natural causes.

In what cases can an adult become infected from another person?

• Having figured out whether you can get bronchitis from another person, it is important to understand in what cases this happens. The likelihood of developing bronchitis increases if, against the background of contact with a sick person, an uninfected person has the following problems:
• · the upper respiratory tract has chronic foci of infection;
• · prolonged inhalation of polluted air (dust particles, building materials, smoke);
• · bad habits (tobacco smoking, substance abuse);
• · abnormalities in the development of the respiratory tract organs.

The key role in whether it is possible to become infected with bronchitis from a sick person is played by the state of the body’s defenses in a healthy person. With reduced immunity, the chances of contracting bronchitis increase.

If the patient does not have a temperature, is he dangerous or not?

Many are also interested in whether bronchitis is contagious to others without fever. There is an opinion that in the absence of temperature or its stabilization, the patient does not pose a danger to other people. But pulmonologists and infectious disease specialists insist that the normalization of a patient’s temperature does not mean that he has completely gotten rid of the virus.

How many days bronchitis is contagious for others is similar to ARVI, since most often it is a complication of it and is provoked by the same pathogens. A person becomes dangerous to others immediately after the introduction of a viral pathogen into his body.

From the moment the microbial agent enters the body until the first symptoms appear, 1-3 days pass. But if a person has fairly strong body defenses, then this period can last for 7 days. At this time, he himself may still have no symptoms of the disease, but for others he poses a threat.

A patient with infectious bronchitis is contagious throughout the entire period of the disease.

How many days is it transmitted by airborne droplets?

Considering that the causative agents of bronchitis are the same as those of ARVI, there is no doubt about whether it can be infected by airborne droplets. Infectious diseases of the respiratory tract are easily transmitted in this way. This can happen throughout the entire period of the disease, even with residual symptoms.

A healthy person, in contact with a sick person, automatically inhales combinations of viruses or bacteria with the air. Transmission of the infection is also possible through household objects: door handles, towels or anything else that the sick person has touched. If a healthy person does not wash their hands and touch their mucous membranes, then the likelihood of infection is very high.

Infection does not occur in all cases, since the immune system is able to quickly destroy pathogens of respiratory tract diseases.

Conclusion

Most often, the causative agents of bronchitis are the same viruses that cause ARVI.

Bronchitis itself is not contagious in either adults or children, that is, a person in contact will not necessarily become infected with bronchitis. However, he is likely to develop an infectious process in the upper respiratory tract (rhinitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis). Whether the disease goes lower - into the trachea and bronchi - or not depends on the person’s immunity and the virulence of the microbes.

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The information posted on the Zen channel is for informational purposes only. Be sure to consult a specialist.

Source: https://zen.yandex.ru/media/id/5c99756a0d867100b20b56b2/5d0c60799d85e700b53198ca