Doctors Explain Exactly How Long Colds Are Contagious
Doctors explain that a typical cold is most contagious during the first two to three days of symptoms and less contagious over the next seven to 10 days. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that rhinoviruses are the most common cause of the common cold, which can spread through the air and close personal contact.
The common cold is a respiratory illness caused by more than 200 different viruses, with rhinoviruses being the most common cause. Symptoms include sore throat, runny nose, congestion, coughing, sneezing, headaches, body aches, fatigue, and brain fog. According to doctors, a cold is most contagious during the first two to three days of symptoms and less contagious over the next seven to 10 days. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend considering the contagious period to be the entire time a person feels sick. Hand-washing is crucial to reduce the spread of disease. People can spread the cold through the air and close personal contact, as well as by coming into contact with respiratory secretions from an infected person.
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