Risk of infection: How long is the flu contagious?

Sore throat, running nose and the number on the thermometer looks everything else as well: Who has the flu, should beware in any case, the bed.

But what if you feel after a few days again right? The risk of Infection is still high, or has already survived all of this?

Clearly, anyone Who has flu symptoms should easy on it. One starts, for example, to be early with the Sport, then it can aggravate the influenza and other organs pass.

Because Influenza is a serious and highly contagious disease. If a user leaves early in the bed, not only the body, but also represents a risk for other people.

Risk of infection without any flu-like symptoms

Affected may be a day before the onset of the symptoms of contagious. And a week after the Outbreak, the risk of infection is still given.

In the flu season, it is recommended, therefore, from diseased people to stay away. As a study from the year 2014, many people in spite of their illness but no symptoms – the Remote is difficult.

The team of scientists to Andres Hayward from University College in London found that one in five infected during a Grippewellle with Influenza viruses. But only at the least you break even.

For their study, they examined five years before and after the flu season, blood samples of a group of British Influenza antibodies.

During the flu season, the researchers asked a week after flu-like symptoms. In the case of a disease, the subjects should skin a swab of the nasal mucosa one chicken, which was then assayed for virus.

The majority of flu infections are asymptomatic

So the researchers came to the conclusion that 18 percent of respondents to a rise in the antibody by more than four – fold the immune system has had contact with flu viruses.

Among the participants in whom Influenza was not detected, were ill during the flu season, 44 percent. Nine percent even had the symptoms without the flu.

The researchers calculated on the basis of these data that the majority of flu infections are asymptomatic, because the immune system neutralizes the virus, without that the Concerned notice something.

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When the body is unable to eliminate the virus, however, the outbreak typically about one to two days after infection. The Flu and symptoms lasting at least two to five days.

In particularly severe cases, it may happen, however, that the flu is kidnapped, and over several weeks, or even months, moving in.

Hygiene protects against droplet infection

Since Influenza transmits, via the so-called droplet infection, while Talking, coughing and Sneezing so infected droplets are released into the air and other people inhale.

Also on objects that are often touched, such as door handles, cavort propagated viruses, which are then transferred via the hands to the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose.

To prevent this, you should wash regularly and thoroughly with the hands. On the way, you can use desinfecting gel specifically for the hands.

Cornelia Bertram

*The contribution of “risk of Infection: How long is the flu contagious?” is published by FitForFun. Contact with the executives here.