At the slightest sneeze or cough, doubt immediately sets in within the home or office. And for good reason, coughing is one of the major ways respiratory germs spread. With each expulsion, we project thousands of tiny droplets, the finest of which sometimes harbor hundreds of viral particles.
As Dr. Gerald Kierzek explains very clearly: “Coughing is one of the main modes of transmission of respiratory viruses such as flu, colds, Covid-19 or bronchiolitis. With each cough or sneeze, thousands of droplets are projected, the smallest of which can contain hundreds of viruses up to several meters away. A cough can even send germs 3 to 6 meters in front of you.”
Droplets, aerosols and surfaces: the different modes of contamination
To protect yourself properly, you need to understand how the virus travels from one individual to another. The first mechanism is based on direct transmission by large droplets, larger than 5 microns, which settle quickly and directly contaminate the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth or eyes of people located less than two meters away.
However, the danger does not end there. “There is also transmission by aerosols, where the finest particles, less than 5 to 10 microns, remain suspended in the air for 1 to 18 hours depending on ventilation, and can thus be inhaled at a distance, especially in a closed space. emphasizes Dr. Kierzek.
Added to this is indirect transmission, caused by the deposit of these secretions on everyday objects such as door handles or cell phones, where the virus sometimes survives for up to 24 hours. All you have to do is touch the surface and then your face to become contaminated. Finally, we must keep in mind that we also contaminate those around us by simply speaking.
Onset of symptoms and peak of infection: when are we really contagious?
The question of the infectious calendar is essential to knowing when to isolate. In the case of the flu, the critical period begins very early. “For influenza, contagiousness begins approximately 24 hours before the first symptoms and continues until 5 to 8 days after their appearance, with a very clear peak at the start of the illness. specifies the doctor. He adds that in children and the elderly, this contagiousness can extend up to 10 to 14 days.
For all respiratory viruses, the general rule is that a person remains contaminated for 3 to 5 days after the disappearance of active symptoms. This duration increases from 7 to 10 days in young children, seniors or immunocompromised people.
Residual cough: why a lingering cough is no longer necessarily dangerous
Many patients worry that they will continue to cough two or three weeks after contracting an infection. However, the duration of the cough does not necessarily reflect the presence of the virus.
Dr. Gerald Kierzek wants to be reassuring on this point. “A lingering cough is not a reliable marker of contagiousness. Cough and fatigue can persist for up to 3 weeks after the flu, even though the contagion period has long since ended.
In order to know whether it is appropriate to maintain strict precautionary measures, there is a simple guideline. “As long as there is a fever and active symptoms, we remain contagious”
summarizes the practitioner. “On the other hand, a residual dry cough after a week without fever is generally mainly irritating and is no longer very contagious. And when in doubt, wearing a mask settles the question once and for all.”
Fundamental hygiene measures to protect against the virus
To stop the chain of transmission as soon as the first signs appear, the implementation of rigorous barrier gestures remains the best solution.
As Dr. Kierzek reminds us, the first rule is to cough into the crook of your elbow or into a discarded single-use tissue immediately, but never into your hands. Wearing a mask is essential in the presence of other people from the first symptoms, as is staying at home as long as the active phase of the disease persists.
Hand hygiene remains the absolute weapon. “Washing your hands for 30 seconds with soap and water, several times a day, is the most effective action.
calls back the doctor. It is also advisable to air the rooms for 10 minutes several times a day, to avoid hugs and handshakes, not to share cutlery or objects, and to keep a physical distance by turning and moving away 1 to 2 meters when a bout occurs.
In summary, if cough constitutes a formidable vector at the height of the infection, it quickly becomes a simple irritant after-effect as the days go by. Relying on the absence of fever, wearing a mask if in doubt and applying strict hand hygiene remain the essential keys to getting through seasonal epidemics while protecting those around you.