Raise Your Flu IQ
Your Flu Questions Answered
By
Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Medical News
Question: How is the flu usually transmitted? What about handshaking? And if you do shake hands, should you immediately wash your hands?
Usually flu is spread by oral secretions -- most often by breathing in droplets expelled into the air by an infected person's cough. These droplets can land in your eye or nose; or they get on your face and you touch your face and then touch your mouth or rub your eyes or scratch your nose. If you shake hands with a person who is coughing or sneezing, it would be a good idea to wash your hands.
You can also get the flu from sharing cups, glasses, or other household objects used by a person who has the flu.
Question: What is the incubation period for the flu?
When you get infected with the flu virus, it multiplies quietly in body until you get symptoms of the disease and start excreting enough virus to give to someone else. That's the incubation period. For the flu, it is about two to five days. So if you are exposed today, you probably won't have any symptoms for three to five days. Then you have a little headache, maybe a few aches and pains and maybe a low fever. Then, the next day, you have a high fever and a runny nose.
Question: How long are you contagious?
Most adults are contagious for about five to seven days. With young children, it's longer. The youngest kids (1 to 2 year olds) can be contagious for 10-14 days. And they can also have diarrheal illness when they get the flu. They get more symptoms that we adults typically have.
Note: According to the CDC, people with lowered immune systems -- such as people with AIDS or people taking drugs to prevent transplant rejection -- can shed flu virus for weeks or months after infection.
Question: How soon after coming in contact with the flu virus are you contagious?
According to the CDC, a person begins shedding virus a day before symptoms appear. This can occur as soon as one day after exposure.
Question: How do you know when you're contagious?
When you get symptoms, the virus has multiplied in your body to the point you can give the flu to someone else. But you aren't likely to spread the infection -- except maybe to close household contacts -- until you start coughing or sneezing.
Question: How long does the virus live on the phone, desk, etc?
Maybe an hour. It depends on the moisture in the air and the temperature of the room.
Question: Can you kill the virus with disinfectants?
Yes. Alcohol or anything that kills other germs would work.
Question: If you come in contact with someone that has the flu, is it 100% certain that you'll get the flu?
No. Not necessarily, but droplets that land on your face are very contagious. If a person has the flu, they should at least turn away from others when they cough or sneeze. If you find yourself on an elevator with someone who is coughing or sneezing, the best thing you can do is turn away.