Is It Contagious? What Diseases Are Contagious?
Answers FAQ
Contagious FAQs
Reviewed by John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP
on October 27, 2017
Test your Knowledge!
- Is pink eye contagious?
- Is psoriasis contagious?
- The flu is highly contagious. True or False?
- Are canker sores contagious?
- Cold sores (fever blisters) are caused by contagious viruses. True or False?
- Is scabies contagious?
- Is mononucleosis contagious?
- Colds are most contagious during the first 24 hours of symptoms. True or False?
- Are warts contagious?
- Is eczema contagious?
- Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac rashes are contagious. True or False?
- Are skin boils contagious?
- Is active tuberculosis (TB) is contagious?
- Are Streptococcus (strep) bacteria contagious?
- Hives are contagious. True or False?
- Is shingles contagious?
- Athlete's foot is contagious. True or False?
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Q:Is pink eye contagious?
A:Yes. Viral and bacterial pink eye infections are contagious and spread very easily. Since most pink eye is caused by viruses for which there is usually no medical treatment, preventing its spread is important. Poor hand-washing is the main cause of the spread of pink eye.
Q:Is psoriasis contagious?
A:No. Psoriasis is a common skin disorder that produces thick red plaques covered with silvery scales. Psoriasis is not contagious and cannot be passed from person to person, but it can occur in members of the same family.
Q:The flu is highly contagious. True or False?
A:True. Influenza, commonly shortened to "flu," is an extremely contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza A or B viruses.
Q:Are canker sores contagious?
A:No. Canker sores are not thought to be contagious. They don't pose any health risk other than the discomfort that comes along with them.
Q:Cold sores (fever blisters) are caused by contagious viruses. True or False?
A:True. Cold sores, also commonly called fever blisters, are caused by herpes simplex virus type 1. The virus is highly contagious. Cold sores usually appear on the lips, chin, cheeks and in the nostrils.
Q:Is scabies contagious?
A:Yes. Scabies is a contagious skin disease caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. The primary symptom (and incredibly itchy, pimply rash) results when the female mite burrows into the skin and deposits eggs. Note: The term "scabies" refers to both the condition and the mite which causes it.
Q:Is mononucleosis contagious?
A:Yes. Infectious mononucleosis (commonly known as "mono") is contagious and spread by person-to-person contact, mainly through saliva. Infectious mononucleosis is also known as the "kissing disease." Malaria, a very dangerous disease, is not contagious. Malaria is transmitted by Anaopheles mosquitoes that carry the malaria parasite.
Q:Colds are most contagious during the first 24 hours of symptoms. True or False?
A:True. When you have a cold, you are most contagious during the first 24 hours through the first few days of catching a cold virus.
Q:Are warts contagious?
A:Yes. Yes, warts are contagious. You can get warts from touching a wart on someone else's body or by coming in contact with surfaces that touched someone's warts, such as towels or bathmats.
Q:Is eczema contagious?
A:No. Eczema is a general term for many types of skin inflammation, also known as dermatitis. Eczema is not contagious, but since it is believed to be at least partially inherited, it is not uncommon to find members of the same family affected.
Q:Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac rashes are contagious. True or False?
A:False. The rash, blisters, and infamous itch associated with poison ivy, oak, and sumac come from urushiol (pronounced oo-roo-shee-ohl) found in the sap of these plants. Neither the oozing blisters nor the fluid cause further spread on the affected person's body, and the rash can not spread to another person.
Q:Are skin boils contagious?
A:Yes. Until it drains and heals, an active skin boil is contagious. The infection can spread to other parts of the person's body or to other people through skin-to-skin contact or the sharing of personal items.
Q:Is active tuberculosis (TB) is contagious?
A:Yes, very much so. Active TB is very contagious. This infection is caused by bacteria. The infection usually stays in the lungs, but the bacteria can travel through the bloodstream to other parts of the body.
Q:Are Streptococcus (strep) bacteria contagious?
A:Yes. Group A Streptococcus bacteria are responsible for a variety of health problems including strep throat, impetigo, cellulitis, scarlet fever and necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease).
Q:Hives are contagious. True or False?
A:False. Hives are not contagious. Hives are produced by histamine, which is made by the body. Histamine causes fluid to leak from local blood vessels, leading to swelling in the skin.
Q:Is shingles contagious?
A:Yes. Shingles is indeed contagious. The virus that causes shingles is the same virus that causes chicken pox.
Q:Athlete's foot is contagious. True or False?
A:True. Athlete's foot, or tinea pedis, is spread through contact with infected skin scales or contact with fungi in damp areas (showers, locker rooms, swimming pools). Treatment may include topical creams (applied to the surface of the skin) or oral medications. To prevent athlete's foot, avoid wearing other people's shoes or slippers.
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