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A Guide To Viral Rashes In Adults And Children
A viral infection rash can be caused by a virus such chickenpox, rubella, or measles. A viral rash often occurs with other symptoms associated with the underlying viral infection. This can make it hard to know the source of the rash and the need for treatment.
This article explains how to identify common viral rashes in adults and children based on typical symptoms and unique characteristics. It also discusses treatments and when to seek a medical evaluation for viral rashes.
© Provided by Verywell Health Matic Grmek / Getty Images What Is a Viral Rash? A viral rash, also known as a viral exanthem, is a skin rash or eruption that commonly occurs as a symptom of a viral infection. It develops as an immune reaction to a virus.
A viral infection rash can usually be identified by red or pink bumps, blotches, or welts that may start on one part of your body and spread, though the appearance can vary by type. It can sometimes cause itching, burning, or other types of discomfort.
In many cases, the virus causing the rash also triggers one or more of the following viral symptoms:
While they can cover large areas of your body and look alarming, viral rashes usually resolve within a few days to a few weeks without treatment.
Viral rashes are typically symptoms of underlying infections. It's usually the virus, not the rash, that quickly spreads. Some common viral rashes linked to contagious viruses include:
Mononucleosis also called the "kissing disease," is an infection typically caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). While the disease is most common among teens ages 15 to 17, it can affect people of all ages.
Mononucleosis can cause a "mono rash" with one of the following characteristics:
You have up to a 100% chance of developing a pink maculopapular rash if you take an antibiotic like ampicillin or amoxicillin for a throat infection while you have mononucleosis. This rash consists of both flat macules and raised bumps called papules.
© Provided by Verywell Health Photo courtesy of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Shingles Shingles Rash Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection linked to the varicella-zoster virus. This is the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you have had chickenpox, you are at risk of developing shingles. Shingles occurs when the dormant virus is reactivated, usually years after the initial infection.
Shingles causes a painful rash that often erupts on one side of your face or body in a single stripe. The blisters last seven to 10 days until they scab over. Full clearing of the rash can take up to four weeks.
Other symptoms of shingles may appear several days before the rash develops and can include:
If you think you have shingles, get a medical evaluation as soon as the rash appears. Several antiviral medicines (acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir) can reduce the length and severity of the illness when taken early in the course of the disease.
Chickenpox RashChickenpox is a highly contagious viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. The chickenpox rash appears about two weeks after exposure to the virus.
It starts as small red bumps that resemble insect bites or pimples. The bumps develop into fluid-filled blisters over two to four days. After the blisters break, the sores crust over until they become dry, brown scabs.
Related:Signs, Symptoms, and Complications of Chickenpox
The rash first appears on the torso, face, and scalp. It can spread virtually anywhere, including the mouth, eyes, and genitals.
The following people are at high risk for complications from the chickenpox rash:
Related:Can You Get Chickenpox Twice?
Fifth DiseaseFifth disease is a mild viral infection that is most common in children and teens. It is caused by human parvovirus B19.
Fifth disease is sometimes called "slapped cheek disease" because it causes a bright red rash on the face, making the child look as if they've been slapped.
While the virus can affect both children and adults, the rash is more common in children. The rash appears from four to 14 days after infection. It can spread to other parts of the body and fades after about five to 10 days.
The rash from fifth disease may reappear when your child is out in the sun or their body heat rises. This can continue for several weeks or months after the illness passes.
© Provided by Verywell Health Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZ www.Dermnetnz.Org 2022 Zika Zika Virus The Zika virus is usually spread by the bite of a certain species of mosquito. It can be spread from a pregnant person to the fetus, through sex, or by an infected blood transfusion.
A Zika virus rash is maculopapular. It includes macules (tiny, raised blotches) and papules (reddish bumps). It usually starts on the trunk and spreads to other areas of the body, often causing itching.
Only 20% of people infected with Zika get symptoms. When symptoms occur, they are usually mild, lasting from a couple of days up to a week.
The Zika virus is potentially dangerous for pregnant people. If you become infected with the Zika virus in the early stages of pregnancy, your baby has a higher risk of serious birth defects.
Hand, Foot, and Mouth DiseaseHand, foot, and mouth disease is a very contagious viral illness caused by the coxsackievirus. It is most common in children under 5 years old.
The rash usually causes flat, red spots or blisters. These occur on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.
When the blisters burst, the sores scab over and dry out. It's important to avoid touching the blisters since the fluid and resulting scabs may contain the virus and spread the infection.
Symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease may also include sores in the back of the mouth that can blister and cause pain.
HIV RashHIV rash occurs during acute HIV infection, the earliest stage of an HIV infection. It typically appears about two to four weeks after initial infection, when the virus is rapidly multiplying.
An HIV rash can become itchy, red, and painful. It is associated with your body's reaction to the new virus. It can also be a sign of another viral infection that developed due to a weakened immune system from HIV.
If you have HIV, you can also develop a rash due to medications used to treat HIV or other conditions.
While most rashes related to HIV medicines are usually not serious, you should call your healthcare provider if you develop a rash while taking HIV medicine. Rarely, these rashes can be a sign of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction that needs immediate medical care.
MeaslesMeasles is a form of paramyxovirus that causes a distinctive rash among people who are not protected by a vaccine. It usually starts on the face about three to five days after viral symptoms begin.
The rash begins as flat red blotches that spread from the face and hairline down to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet. Measles may cause a fever of more than 104°F.
Tiny raised bumps may develop on top of the flat red spots. The rash usually runs its course in about six days.
While the measles virus is relatively rare due to widespread vaccination, it can cause severe complications for babies and children under age 5.
Learn More:Symptoms of Measles
Roseola Infantum (Sixth Disease)Roseola infantum, also called sixth disease, is a viral infection caused by a type of herpes virus. Children between 6 months and 2 years old are most often affected by the virus.
A roseola rash may appear between five and 15 days after exposure. A high fever above 103°F, lasting for up to a week, can occur before the rash appears.
When the rash appears, it is typically pink, with either flat or raised lesions. It usually starts on the abdomen, then spreads to the arms, legs, and face.
© Provided by Verywell Health Rubella Rubella Rubella, commonly called German measles, is an infection that mostly affects the skin and lymph nodes. A rash is the first sign of illness after infection.
A rubella rash usually starts on the face as pink or light red spots and can be harder to see on darker skin. It usually feels rough or bumpy to the touch. It can spread to form colored patches as it moves downward, away from the face.
The rash can be itchy and may last up to three days. The affected skin may shed fine flakes as the rash clears.
Children who have rubella should never be given aspirin. Doing so puts them at risk for a serious illness called Reye's syndrome.
If you are pregnant and have symptoms of rubella or learn you've been exposed to the virus, contact your healthcare provider immediately. The virus can cause congenital rubella syndrome, resulting in serious birth defects.
West Nile VirusWest Nile virus is an infection transmitted by mosquito bites. About 80% of infected people don't have symptoms, About 20% of those infected develop a fever with other symptoms including body aches or rash.
The rash appears two to 14 days after infection. It tends to resemble measles and be maculopapular, with both flat and raised areas. The rash doesn't itch and often appears on the torso, arms, and legs.
Dengue FeverDengue fever is a viral infection spread by mosquitos. Symptoms include those typical of viral infections. It often starts with a very high fever, up to 105°F, along with a rash.
A dengue fever rash can be macular (flat) or maculopapular (flat and raised). It usually covers most of the body two to five days after the fever starts. Later in the disease, a flat rash similar to measles appears.
The rash can cause itchiness, skin sensitivity, and general discomfort. The illness and its symptoms usually last about a week.
Molloscum ContagiosumMolloscum contagiosum is a viral infection caused by poxvirus. The infection causes mild skin disease.
The rash caused by molloscum contagiosum results in the formation of lesions known as mollusca. These lesions can appear anywhere on the body, including the face and genital areas.
Mollusca usually have the following characteristics:
The rash usually clears within six to 12 months without scarring, though it can take as long as four years to disappear.
Colorado Tick FeverColorado tick fever is a rare viral tick-borne infection. You can become infected if you are bitten by an infected Rocky Mountain wood tick.
Symptoms of Colorado tick fever, including a skin rash, usually appear within three to seven days of infection, though it can take up to 20 days to see symptoms. In addition to common viral symptoms, a spotted rash occurs in 5% to 12% of people infected with Colorado tick fever.
Acrodermatitis (Gianitti Crosti Syndrome)Acrodermatitis, also known as gianitti crosti syndrome, is a rare skin condition. It affects children between the ages of 9 months and 9 years.
The disease usually occurs after a child has had a viral infection such as Hepatitis-B, infectious mononucleosis, coxsackievirus, or cytomegalovirus (CMV).
Acrodermatitis produces a rash that may or may not itch. It is characterized by the following symptoms:
While some viral rashes are contagious, others are not. Those that are contagious are usually spread during certain stages of the infection, often before symptoms appear.
Related:Skin Rashes Types and Causes in Children
Treatment for Viral RashTreatments for viral rashes vary depending on the underlying cause of the rash. Many viral rashes don't require any treatment and clear on their own. Others may benefit from medical care or medication to reduce symptoms and shorten the duration.
The need for treatment of a viral rash depends on the type of rash, your medical history, age, and current physical condition.
Home RemediesHome remedies can help reduce symptoms of viral rashes that don't require medical treatment. The following therapies can reduce symptoms, such as itchiness and inflammation, that are common with viral rashes:
When a rash doesn't resolve and you have other symptoms such as fever, body aches, and fatigue, it may be a sign of a more serious condition. Seek immediate medical care if you experience any of the following symptoms:
While most viral rashes aren't considered serious, only a healthcare provider can provide an accurate diagnosis for your rash. Factors such as the type of viral rash you have, your medical history, and your current health condition, can affect the outcomes of a viral rash. If you have a rash, contact your healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
Related:A Guide to Which Rashes You Should Worry About
SummaryA viral rash occurs as a symptom of an underlying viral infection. It can appear with other common viral symptoms like fever, headache, body aches, or fatigue.
Most viral rashes start on your trunk or face, then spread to other parts of your body. They can appear in many forms, such as bumps, spots, or blotches.
Viral rashes usually can't be treated or cured with medicine. They typically heal on their own and disappear as other symptoms of the disease fade.
When You Should Worry About RSV
For most people who get respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the illness doesn't go beyond mild, cold-like symptoms that affect the upper respiratory tract, such as a runny nose, sore throat, cough, and a headache, according to the American Lung Association. The majority who are infected recover at home in a week or two at home just with rest, pain relievers (acetaminophen or ibuprofen), and plenty of fluids.
But when RSV gets into the lower respiratory tract, it can cause serious illness, straining the lungs and breathing passages. In certain vulnerable groups, the virus can be so damaging it requires emergency care in a hospital and may even prove to be deadly.
Who Is Most Susceptible to Severe Illness?According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), those more likely to develop severe RSV infections are premature babies and infants, older adults, immunocompromised individuals, and people with chronic medical conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic heart or lung disease.
Serious RSV cases can lead to bronchiolitis (an inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia. Pneumonia causes the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs to become inflamed and fill with fluid. This makes it harder to breathe and can become life-threatening.
Immunocompromised people with weakened immune systems may be at particularly high risk of pneumonia. These patients include those receiving treatment for cancer, transplant recipients, individuals who take drugs that suppress the immune system for diseases like Crohn's, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis, and HIV patients.
"I saw pneumonia quite often in AIDS patients with RSV when I ran the HIV clinic at our county hospital in San Jose, California," says Dean Winslow, MD, an infectious-disease specialist and a professor of medicine at Stanford University in California.
Research has suggested that RSV not only increases the risk of viral pneumonia but bacterial pneumonia as well.
RSV Can Take an Enormous Toll on the Young and OldIn the fall of 2022, the United States experienced a dramatic rise in RSV-related hospitalizations. Federal data indicated that hospital admissions for RSV were 10 times higher than usual. At that time, beds at several pediatric hospitals were at or near capacity, and vulnerable seniors were also packing medical facilities.
Even in a typical year, RSV can take a serious toll on the young and old. The CDC estimates that RSV causes 58,000 to 80,000 hospitalizations among children younger than 5 years old, and 60,000 to 160,000 hospitalizations among adults 65 years and older.
The virus causes more fatalities among seniors than infants, leading to 6,000 to 10,000 deaths on average annually among those 65 and up, and 100 to 300 deaths among those under age 5, according to the CDC.
"Infants younger than six months often have more severe disease, probably because their immune systems haven't matured yet," says Dr. Winslow. "In older people, their immune systems are in decline. As people age, their cellular immune system — that's their lymphocytes and monocytes — doesn't work as efficiently, so all kinds of infections become more common."
He adds that older people often have underlying conditions, which can make them more susceptible to a variety of infections. At the same time, infections can worsen their underlying conditions. For example, the American Lung Association says RSV can trigger an asthma attack or exacerbate COPD.
For seniors living in nursing homes and other shared environments, infection risk goes up as RSV is very contagious, spreading through coughs, sneezes, and touch. RSV can survive hours on surfaces, and may be passed along through shared items, such as a salt shaker or pen.
Severe RSV Symptoms in Older AdultsThe following symptoms may indicate that an adult is experiencing severe respiratory illness from RSV and requires prompt medical attention:
Wet, Worsening Cough Infection in the airways may cause the lungs to produce more phlegm and mucus. With RSV, the cough is often a wet cough or a "productive" cough because it is helping clear the lungs of mucus.
Afif El-Hasan, MD, a medical spokesperson for the American Lung Association, warns that a cough suppressant usually isn't a good idea with a wet cough.
"Let's say you're a 60-year-old and you're taking something like a codeine product to suppress the cough — then you're basically eliminating one of the natural defenses your body has of getting rid of infection, which is to cough up all of the mucus and all the secretions that are in the lungs and in the back of the throat," says Dr. El-Hasan. He suggests using an expectorant and a humidifier to make the cough more effective.
Fever Fever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature that means your immune system is fighting the infection. With adults, Mayo Clinic advises calling a healthcare provider if a temperature is 103 degrees F or higher.
Dehydration Watch for signs of loss of body fluids (dehydration), such as dry mouth, little to no urine output, sunken eyes, and extreme sleepiness.
Shortness of Breath and Wheezing This is a major sign of trouble. Mayo Clinic advises paying close attention to breathing to determine if emergency care is needed. When the lungs can't hold as much air because they are swelling or have mucus buildup, a person with RSV typically experiences shortness of breath.
If the infection gets deep in the lower respiratory tract, the small airways entering the lungs may get inflamed and cause wheezing. Wheezing — a high-pitched noise produced when exhaling — is usually a sign of extreme physical distress. Rapid or shallow breathing also signals major trouble.
Sometimes a person struggling to breathe will want to sit up rather than lie down in order to make breathing easier.
Bluish Tint to Skin Seek out emergency medical care immediately if this symptom appears. "When you're not oxygenating the blood like you should, you can get blue around the mouth and in the nail beds," says El-Hasan. An oximeter, an inexpensive home device that clips on the finger, can quickly gauge a person's oxygen levels.
Severe RSV Symptoms in InfantsIn addition to some of the same symptoms that adults have, infants can have distinctive signs that indicate they are in severe RSV-related distress and require immediate medical attention.
Struggling to Breathe The Mayo Clinic urges parents to look for chest muscles and skin pulling inward with each breath. This can be a sign that the child has a severe infection.
"Because they have very small airways, infants [especially those who are less than 6 months old] can have a serious, deep infection in the lungs," says Ana Weil, MD, assistant professor with the Center of Emerging and Re-Emerging Infections at the University of Washington's department of medicine in Seattle. The risk of severe illness grows as the tiny airways become inflamed and narrower.
Poor Feeding Because very sick babies are struggling to breathe, they may also struggle to eat or drink. Fast or effortful breathing may cause them to aspirate (inhale) milk, for example, sending it into their lungs.
Excessive Sleepiness With an infant, El-Hasan, who is also a pediatrician with the Southern California Medical Group in San Juan Capistrano, advises parents to be on the alert for extreme lethargy. "It could be an urgent situation if the child is excessively tired or becoming weaker," he says. A baby who is in discomfort may also become overly fussy.
Fever As with adults, a high temperature is a danger sign for young ones. Mayo Clinic says that parents should call a healthcare provider if a child younger than 3 months old has a rectal temperature of 100.4 degrees F or higher, or a child between 3 and 24 months old has a rectal temperature higher than 102 degrees F or higher.
Treatments When Symptoms Get ExtremeIn the most extreme circumstances, an infected person may require additional oxygen, or IV fluids (if they can't eat or drink enough), or intubation (have a breathing tube inserted through the mouth and down to the airway) with mechanical ventilation (a machine to help a person breathe), according to the CDC. In most of these cases, hospitalization only lasts a few days.
Infants and young children with severe pneumonia caused by RSV may be prescribed ribavirin (Virazole), administered via inhalation or pill.
How to Prevent Severe RSV DiseaseChildren at high risk for RSV, such as those who were born prematurely or have certain heart or lung diseases, may receive an injection of palivizumab (Synagis), a monoclonal antibody designed to prevent severe illness by helping the immune system to slow or stop the spread of the virus. It is not used to treat the symptoms of RSV disease once a child already has the virus.
Vaccines for RSV are another important tool for staving off worrisome disease. On May 3, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the world's first RSV vaccine, for adults 60 and up. The shot, manufactured by the global biopharmaceutical company GSK (GlaxoSmithKline) will be marketed as Arexvy.
Additional vaccines for older adults as well as vaccines to protect infants are expected to be available in the very near future.
"We can save lives and prevent complications and prevent hospitalizations by using these vaccines going forward," says Dr. Weil.
In addition to getting immunized, the CDC encourages the public to take these measures to help limit the spread of this highly contagious illness, especially if you have any symptoms:
How Long Are You Contagious With Covid-19 Coronavirus? Here's A CDC Update
A health officer in Istanbul, Turkey, wears protective clothing before collecting swab samples from ... [+] confined people who may be infected with the Covid-19 coronavirus and thus may be infected. (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty ImagesYou may be able to lose a guy in 10 days, based on the 2003 rom-com movie How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. That also may be time that it takes for you to "lose" enough of the Covid-19 coronavirus so that you are no longer contagious, based on updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC is now saying that if you have mild-to-moderate Covid-19, keep yourself isolated from other people for at least 10 days after you first noticed symptoms. You can discontinue this isolation after the 10-day mark if you haven't had a fever for at least 24 hours and your other symptoms have improved. Note that not having a fever because you took a fever-reducing medication like Tylenol doesn't count. That would be cheating. The fever has to have naturally disappeared. Still having a fever after 10 days means that you may need not only more cowbell but also more isolation.
This is a bit different from what the CDC was saying back in April, which was about three missed haircuts ago. As I wrote for Forbes at the time, the threshold back then was seven days rather than 10 days for discontinuing isolation. Also, the previous threshold for being fever-free was 72 hours instead of 24 hours. So in the words of Guns N' Roses, you'll need to have a little more patience. Wait three days longer for a total of 10 days before exposing yourself to others. Actually, that came out wrong. Wait three days longer for a total of 10 days after symptom onset before being in the same room with others.
Isolation much more than social distancing. Social distancing should be maintained even after ending ... [+] isolation. (Photo by Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesKeep in mind that isolation is not the same as social distancing. You should still social distance after ending isolation. As I've indicated previously, social distancing means staying at least one Ryan Gosling away from everyone else. As actor Gosling is approximately six feet tall, this would be keeping at least one lying Gosling apart. A Gosling lying on the floor, that is.
Isolation, instead, entails staying in a room or rooms by yourself away from others. That means no Ryan Goslings, no Ryan Reynolds, no Ryan Chappelles, no Dave Chappelles, no David Crosses, no Marcia Crosses, no Marcia Bradys. Nobody else should be there. No one should enter that room unless they are wearing a full set of personal protective equipment, known affectionately as PPE. It also involves not sharing with others any items that you may have contaminated, including that mountain of toilet paper that you have amassed around your bed.
Isolation is different from quarantine as well. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) website includes the following easy-to-remember phrases:
As you can see, it's all about the might. Isolate yourself when you already know that you are infected. By contrast, quarantine yourself when you think that you may have been exposed to the virus. Another way to remember when to quarantine is the "q." Quarantine when there's a "question" whether you are infected. Isolate when you say "I am infected." Quarantine does not become isolation until you have either had a positive test for the RNA of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or developed symptoms that suggest Covid-19.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced that individuals who have traveled ... [+] to New York from higher-risk states should quarantine for 14 days. (Photo by Jeenah Moon/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesThe recommended quarantine duration is still at least 14 days because that's how long the incubation period may potentially last. The incubation period is the time from when you are infected by the virus to when you first develop symptoms and may last anywhere from two to 14 days, based on studies so far. So if you think you got exposed to the Covid-19 coronavirus during that ill-advised Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in-person watch party, you'll have to view the show for the next two weeks by yourself, far away from anyone else, except for perhaps that massive pile of toilet paper next to your bed.
If you have more severe Covid-19 or a weak immune system then you could remain contagious for longer than 10 days. More severe cases may shed more virus for longer periods of time. The CDC is now recommending that those with severe-to-critical illness or a very weak immune system stay isolated for at least 20 days after the onset of symptoms. Of course, if you have severe-to-critical Covid-19, you really should be in the hospital. So this guidance is more for health care workers taking care of patients with Covid-19.
What if you tested positive for the SARS-CoV2 but never developed any symptoms? Well, the threshold is still 10 days. But for asymptomatic infections, staying isolated for 10 days after symptom onset would mean that you would stay isolated forever, which would be a really long time.
Instead, the guidance is to stay isolated for 10 days from the date of your first positive test for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. In this case, RNA stands for "ribonucleic acid" rather than "rations not available" or "really not avocado." RNA is the virus's genetic material. A SARS-CoV-2 RNA test is when someone sticks that cotton swab way up your nose or to the back of your throat or both to get samples to test for the presence of the virus genetic material. This is probably an experience that you would remember. It is very different from the blood test that checks for antibodies to the SARS-CoV2.
Covid-19 coornavirus RNA testing typically involves sticking a cotton swab up your nose, although ... [+] alternatives such as spit testing are emerging. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesSpeaking of testing, here's another change in the CDC guidance. The CDC used to recommend that health care workers with Covid-19 stay isolated until they have a negative test for SARS-CoV2 RNA. However, studies have been showing that you can still have a positive test but no evidence of "replication-competent" virus in your upper respiratory tract. Replicate means reproduce, just in case you haven't seen the word "replicate" used on someone's dating profile. Therefore, a "replication-competent" virus means a virus that is able to reproduce and thus infect someone.
Finding virus RNA is not necessarily the same as finding whole live versions of the virus. In fact, virus RNA can still be found in specimens from your upper respiratory tract for as long as three months after you first noticed symptoms. This can be a bit like finding someone's bling without finding that person himself or herself. It's still not clear what finding such RNA means without detecting replication competent virus, whether it represents fragments of the virus, weakened versions of the virus, inactivated virus, hide-and-go-seek virus, or something else.
These updated guidelines are based on studies showing that the chances of finding replication-competent virus in respiratory tract specimens steadily goes down with passing time after symptom onset. In other words, your infectiousness may go down each day that you have symptoms. In these studies, researchers were not able to find replication-competent virus in patients with mild-to-moderate Covid-19 after 10 days had elapsed since their symptoms first manifested.
In a study that's posted on MedRxiv and hasn't yet undergone peer-review, researchers were able to find replication-competent viruses between 10 and 20 days after symptom onset in patients with severe Covid-19. However, 10 and 15 days after symptom onset, already about 88% and 95% of the specimens, respectively, in this study no longer had replication-competent virus. Of course, take any study that's just on MedRxiv with a grain or even a toilet paper roll package of salt until it's been published in a reputable peer-reviewed scientific journal.
So 10 and 20 are now the numbers to remember when it comes to contagiousness and isolation. These thresholds are based on studies to date, so they could change as more evidence emerges. The Covid-19 coronavirus is like that person that you just met on Tinder. It still is rather mysterious, may not be completely what it seems, and could make you very sick.
Also, consider these numbers to be rough estimates rather than exact deadlines. Don't set your timer so that you can start panting on other people right after the 10- or 20-day mark has passed. It can't hurt to stay cautious for a little extra time. After all, viruses, like some guys, could end up hanging around a little longer than expected.
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