Good to know
with dr. honaker
it’s best to stay away
from other people to
avoid getting them
sick for up to 12 to
24 hours after your
fever is gone.
How Long Am I
Contagious?
Patients often ask Dr. Richard
Honaker how long they are contagious when sick. Understandably, they don’t want to expose
other people to what they have.
“For most diseases such as the flu
and bad colds, or things with fever,
you are contagious until the fever
has been gone for 12 to 24 hours,”
says Dr. Honaker.
Dr. Honaker usually tells his patients they can go back to school
or be around people without putting them at risk once they have
not had a fever the night before.
Therefore, if you have not had a
fever after 6 p.m. at night, then the
next day it should be safe for you
to be around people.
“one problem is that you are
probably contagious before you
get a fever,” says Dr. Honaker, “as
with many illnesses that maybe ten
to 12 or possibly up to 24 hours beforehand.”
In a case of the chickenpox people may be contagious a couple
of days before the chickenpox
rash breaks out or gives them a fever.
Now, other diseases such as hepatitis can be contagious for a long
time, up to a couple of weeks before you even know you have it.
In addition, people may even be
contagious for months and years
afterwards.
Dr. Honaker strongly advises that
you ask your doctor about those
particular diseases, but on the
others just use the rule of thumb
of staying away for up to 12 to 24
hours after you no longer have a
fever.
DR. RICHARD HONAKER
Family Medicine Physician
Dr. Honaker is featured on Best Docs Network DFW, Houston and Nashville in the Medical Minute
segments, as it’s trusted family medicine physician discussing topics ranging from eating healthy,
weight loss, and sleep problems to preventive care for headaches, food poisoning and sunburns.
family medicine associates of texas | (972) 394 - 8844 | 4333 n Josey ln. | plaza ii, ste. 302 | carrollton, texas
To see all of Dr. Honaker’s Medical Minute videos , visit www.BestDocsNetwork.com
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