Yikes! Is It Contagious?

From the Fall 2011 StayHealthy publication

Brush up on your infection detection skills by learning which of the following ailments are contagious.

Flu: Contagious
“Not only is flu highly contagious, but people with flu can spread it to others up to about 6 feet away,” said Kimberly Perry, MD, with Portage Medical Group. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for longer than seven days. “The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine each season,” said Perry. “Also, wash your hands frequently, avoid those who are sick and prevent spreading germs by staying home when you’re sick,” she said.

Warts: Contagious
“Warts are as contagious as they are unattractive,” according to Maria Stamp, MD, with Lake Porter Medical Group. A wart is a small rough skin growth in some area on the body, caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). “You can get warts through direct contact with someone with warts or through indirect contact with contaminated items, such as towels, clothes, underwear, shoes or bathing facilities,” said Stamp. “It’s also possible for warts to spread from one part of your body to another,” she said. To prevent the viral infections that cause warts to appear, Stamp recommends using good hygiene and not sharing personal items with others.

Cold sores/fever blisters: Contagious
“Cold sores are caused by the highly contagious herpes simplex virus type 1,” said Giridhar Chilukuri, MD, with Westchester Medical Group. “If you have a cold sore, minimize the risk of spreading it to others by using good hygiene, such as washing your hands. Also don’t share utensils, razors or towels. And, certainly, don’t share a kiss,” he said.

Shingles (varicella-zoster virus or "VZV": Contagious. Kind of.
“This one is interesting,” said Michael Mirochna, MD, with Vale Park Primary Care. “While you can’t ‘catch’ shingles from someone with shingles, a person with shingles can infect others with chickenpox,” he said. “The virus that causes both shingles and chickenpox can be spread to others as long as there are new blisters forming and old blisters healing,” he said. “The good news is that there are effective vaccines for both chickenpox and shingles. Talk to your doctor about which one might make sense for you, depending on your age and general health.”

Poison Ivy: Not Contagious from other people
“While you can’t ‘catch’ poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac from another person, you can spread the rash to another person if the sap or resin that caused the rash remains on your skin,” said Geraldine Feria, MD, with Wanatah Primary Care. “Even ruptured blisters won’t spread the rash from poison ivy. The rash is only spread by contact with the resin on the surface of the poisonous plant. So, it is important to make sure you wash the skin, clothing and any surfaces that have touched this resin in order to prevent the rash from affecting new areas of your own body or others,” said Feria.

MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus): Contagious
“MRSA is a staph infection typically spread by direct contact with someone’s skin infection or their personal items, such as towels or razors,” said Omer Ansari, MD, with Westchester Medical Group. “Garden-variety staph are common bacteria that can live on our bodies. But staph can be a problem if it manages to get into the body, often through a cut, where it can cause an infection,” he said. To minimize the risk of MRSA, wash your hands frequently with soap or an alcohol-based sanitizer. Also avoid sharing personal items that touch your bare skin, such as bar soap, razors or towels. Cover cuts and scrapes with a bandage to keep germs out.

Streptococcus (Strep bacteria): Contagious
“All types of Group A Streptococcus bacteria, which many refer to as just strep, is spread by saliva and may be reduced by good hand washing, especially after coughing and sneezing as well as before preparing meals and eating,” said Derek Gasper, DO, with Glendale Primary Care. “We use antibiotics to treat strep, but people remain contagious for 24 hours after they begin taking the medication. Without antibiotics, you may be contagious for two to three weeks, even if your symptoms go away,” he said.