It’s great spending time together and being with the ones we love. After all, no one likes being on their own and feeling left out! However, all this contact with others has one major downside. And that is that it can greatly help bacteria and viruses spread amongst people and increase the risk of contagious diseases spreading.
If someone suspects that they may be ill, or are showing symptoms of certain infectious diseases, it is a good idea that they don’t come into contact with others for a few days. Or at least until most of their symptoms disappear. But which are the most common infectious diseases and what should you watch out for? Below you will find some of the most common and what you can do to fight them.
Chickenpox
Chickenpox is highly contagious among young children. In fact, it is so common that most children will catch it at some point of their childhood. One good thing about this illness is that once you have had it, you will never get it again because your body develops an immunity against the bacteria. This is why some parents send their kids around to play with infected children. The main symptoms are itchy spots and scabs all over the body. There isn’t any medication that can treat the illness, but it should disappear on its own after a few days. Giving your kids paracetamol and applying moisturizer should ease the itching and pain.
The Common Cold
There are around one billion colds diagnosed in the United States every year. And the majority of those cases will have been caught from other people! If you think you have a cold, it is a good idea to stay off work or school for a day or two so that you do not spread the infection. This will also help the body heal a lot quicker. Just like with chickenpox, there is no medication that will fight the cold directly, but taking painkillers can help to alleviate some of the main symptoms.
Sexually Transmitted Infections
There are lots of infections that can be caught through sexual contact, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV. If you regularly ask yourself how hard is it to get an HIV or other sexually transmitted infection, you will be pleased to hear that there are numerous ways you can reduce your risk of contracting one. The best way is to always wear condoms during sexual intercourse. Being monogamous and sticking to just the one sexual partner can also greatly reduce the risk.
Gastroenteritis
Sharing food and utensils is one of the main reasons why gastroenteritis spreads so quickly between people. It is also spread if someone with the norovirus or rotavirus mixes with others. If you think you are suffering from one of these viruses, it is important that you stay at home until you are fully recovered to limit the spread of infection.
So, if you aren’t feeling too well, it may be a good idea to stay at home, no matter how tempting the party invite may be!