How long is phenomena contagious

Contagious pneumonia comes in several different forms, including the following:. These types indicate the type of pathogen that initially affected the lung and caused the disease.

Some people also describe pneumonia in terms of where a person acquired it, such as hospital-acquired pneumonia or community-acquired pneumonia. A person can spread the germs that cause pneumonia when he or she coughs and expels the bacterial or viral infections that caused the disease.

The droplets containing the virus or bacteria can land on a common surface, such as a table, telephone, or computer. You could also breathe in the droplets and bring them into your own breathing tract. The time that a person may pass along pneumonia varies depending on the type and how he or she acquired it. Additionally, some types of pneumonia are much more contagious than others.

Two examples of highly contagious strains of this illness are mycoplasma and mycobacterium. Once a person who has pneumonia starts on antibiotics, he or she only remains contagious for the next 24 to 48 hours. Catching pneumonia The germs that can cause pneumonia are usually breathed in. People often have small amounts of germs in their nose and throat that can be passed on through: coughs and sneezes — these launch tiny droplets of fluid containing germs into the air, which someone else can breathe in touching an object and transferring germs on to it — someone else can touch this object and then touch their own mouth or nose Preventing the spread of pneumonia You can help prevent the spread of a pneumonia by taking some simple hygiene precautions.

These include: washing your hands regularly and thoroughly, particularly after touching your nose and mouth, and before handling food coughing and sneezing into a tissue, then throwing it away immediately and washing your hands not sharing cups or kitchen utensils with others Vaccination The pneumococcal vaccine protects against Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia. Vaccination is recommended for: babies adults aged 65 or over children and adults with certain long-term health conditions, such as a serious heart or kidney condition Find out more about who should have the pneumococcal vaccine.

Mycoplasma bacteria are also contagious. The influenza virus or the flu is a common cause of viral pneumonia. The virus spreads easily from person to person, causing a range of symptoms and conditions. In most cases, infections are contagious for a few days before symptoms appear and for a few days after.

The exact length of time a person is contagious depends on the type of microorganism causing the infection. Some forms of pneumonia, such as pneumonia caused by mycoplasma, remain contagious for several weeks.

If a person has pneumonia, they should speak to a doctor about how long the infection will be contagious. People with bacterial pneumonia will usually be prescribed antibiotics that stop the infection from progressing. Pneumonia will usually stop being contagious a day or two after treatment begins. A person is also considered contagious during a fever , so it is best to stay home from work or school until the fever is gone. People who have been vaccinated against infections that can cause pneumonia, such as pneumococcal bacteria, are usually immune to those specific germs.

Getting the vaccination can help prevent this type of infection from developing. Although anyone can get pneumonia, some people are at greater risk. Pneumonia occurs when an infection develops within the lungs. It can cause complications with breathing and spread to other parts of the body such as the bloodstream.

People at risk of pneumonia need to be especially cautious around people who have recently had pneumonia or another respiratory infection.

Pneumonia is transmitted when germs from the body of someone with pneumonia spread to another person. This can happen in a variety of ways, including:. Food particles and irritants from the intestinal tract can also cause pneumonia. This is called aspiration pneumonia and can occur when a person accidentally inhales these substances. Pneumonia is a common complication with many of these infections. Do you have viral or bacterial pneumonia?

Learn about the symptoms of viral pneumonia and how to treat this contagious condition. Double pneumonia is a lung infection that affects both of your lungs. Learn more about the symptoms and prognosis for double pneumonia.

Pneumonia is a serious complication of COPD. Find out how pneumonia differs from other lung infections, and how this condition is treated. How is bacterial pneumonia different from viral?

What's the best way to treat pneumonia and prevent it from reoccurring? Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs caused by fungi, bacteria, or viruses. General symptoms include chest pain, fever, cough, and trouble breathing. Pneumonia is often more severe in older adults. Prompt medical care is recommended.

Learn about common symptoms, causes, treatment, and prevention. Wondering if you can you have pneumonia without having a fever?