Is a cold contagious after 7 days

It’s normal to come down with a cold a few times a year, but it never really gets any easier. The runny nose, sore throat, and cough—not to mention that horrible feeling when you realize you’ve passed your misery on to someone else!

But it can be hard to know when, exactly, you’re contagious—or if someone in your home or workplace is. Contagiousness is actually a bit complex. To figure out when it’s relatively safe to interact again, it helps to understand what you’re dealing with when you’re sick.

Ahead, we're sharing how long colds typically last and how long you're contagious, with the help of some expert insight.

What is the contagious period of a cold

First, what is the common cold?

The common cold is a respiratory illness that can be caused by more than 200 different viruses, although rhinoviruses are the most common cause, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Viruses that cause colds can spread from person to person through the air and close personal contact.

You can also get a cold from coming into contact with infected

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