Is It Catching?

2. Flu is contagious:

• Only during fever.
  No. Flu is actually contagious from 24 hours before the onset of symptoms until 24 hours after the fever breaks.
• From 24 hours before the onset of symptoms until 24 hours after the fever breaks.
  Yes. Flu is actually contagious for a full day before symptoms set in, and lasts a full day after temperature has returned to normal.
• As long as symptoms persist.
  Nope. Flu is actually contagious for a full day before symptoms set in, and lasts a full day after temperature has returned to normal.

3. Lice are "catchy" until:

• one week after using a lice shampoo.
  Not really. Lice are "catchy" until they have been successfully treated with lice medicine--meaning that all lice are dead and there are no eggs that could hatch new lice. Using a lice shampoo once doesn't guarantee success. The good news is that you can get rid of lice completely in less than a week.
• a thorough hair brushing with a lice comb.
  That won't do it. Lice are "catchy" until they have been successfully treated with lice medicine--meaning that all lice are dead and there are no eggs that could hatch new lice.
• successfully treated with lice medicine, sometimes requiring more than one application.
  That's right. Lice are "catchy" until they have been successfully treated with lice medicine--meaning that all lice are dead and there are no eggs that could hatch new lice.

4. Impetigo is a very contagious infection of the skin. Localized redness develops into small blisters that gradually crust and erode. Impetigo is contagious until:

• the blisters have crusted over.
  Nope. It is true that chickenpox are contagious until the blisters have crusted over. But impetigo is only contagious until an appropriate antibiotic has been used for 24 hours.
• use of an appropriate antibiotic for 24 hours.
  Absolutely. Once an appropriate antibiotic has been used for 24 hours, impetigo is no longer contagious--even though the rash has not disappeared.
• the rash is no longer itchy.
  Nope. Itchiness makes impetigo unpleasant, to say the least. But that's not the key to whether it's still contagious. Impetigo is no longer contagious after an appropriate antibiotic has been used for 24 hours.

5. Strep throat is contagious until:

• the appropriate antibiotic has been taken for 24 hours.
  You got it. Once your kid has been on the appropriate antibiotic for 24 hours, he or she is no longer contagious. Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean they'll feel well enough to go back to school.
• five out of the ten day's worth of antibiotics have been taken.
  Nope. But you're on the right track. Your kid is no longer contagious after only 24 hours on the appropriate antibiotics.
• glands are no longer swollen.
  Nope. They'll certainly feel better after their glands are no longer swollen, but that isn't how you can tell if they are contagious. Once your kid has been on the appropriate antibiotic for 24 hours, he or she is no longer contagious.