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Can Coughing Spread Infections And What Are The Risks Associated With Coughing?
Question: My question is more of a hypothetical question. We took my 13 month old son to the ER today because he's had a fever for a few days and he wasn't eating or drinking. His fever has been gone for several hours now, and he's finally starting to feel better.
While we were at the ER, there was an older child who sat down near us in the waiting room. He had a cough, and he wasn't covering it at all. We were sitting near him, probably 10-12 ft. away. I decided to walk my son to a vacant part of the waiting room, but we had to walk in the pathway of where he had coughed probably 1-2 minutes after his last cough. I know particles from coughs are airborne and spread at least 6 ft. Now im worried that my baby is going to get another virus or bacterial infection on top of the one he currently has, because he's so little and vulnerable. This is his third time being sick, but his first time to ever have a fever. Im worried thst if he picks up a secondary infection, it could really do some harm. Are there risks associated with coinfections? What are symptoms thst would require prompt medical attention?
While we were at the ER, there was an older child who sat down near us in the waiting room. He had a cough, and he wasn't covering it at all. We were sitting near him, probably 10-12 ft. away. I decided to walk my son to a vacant part of the waiting room, but we had to walk in the pathway of where he had coughed probably 1-2 minutes after his last cough. I know particles from coughs are airborne and spread at least 6 ft. Now im worried that my baby is going to get another virus or bacterial infection on top of the one he currently has, because he's so little and vulnerable. This is his third time being sick, but his first time to ever have a fever. Im worried thst if he picks up a secondary infection, it could really do some harm. Are there risks associated with coinfections? What are symptoms thst would require prompt medical attention?
Brief Answer:
Probably not a big risk from the coughing boy, but wash baby's hands, face.
Detailed Answer:
I can understand your concern. First I want to ask: does your 13 month old baby have any chronic illnesses, diagnosis of immune deficiencies, or is he significantly underweight? If not, he most likely has a healthy intact immune system which will be able to handle common infectious things that come his way.
He is on his 3rd infection but it sounds like previous infections have not been severe, and it also sounds like his immune system is getting his current fever and infection in check.
Assuming the older boy has a common upper respiratory infection, and if your baby contracts it, he will probably be able to fight it off. Complications could include ear infections and secondary bacterial infections such as pneumonia. Symptoms would be high fever that doesn't come down completely, bad cough.
Now I will assume the boy with the cough was not extremely ill, as he was able to walk in on his own and sit in the waiting room. So that is a good sign that what he had may not be anything really bad.
Also the boy was 10 feet away so not a big risk there. And you walked through the area a minute or two later. Again, not ideal but not a high risk.
There are some infections that can spread in a wide range via droplet nuclei, such as measles. But with most respiratory infections, the risk of getting them is not so much from being near a cough as with touching a contaminated surface with your hand and then inoculating yourself by touching either your nose or eyes. So your baby is much more likely to pick up something from that ER from having had his hands on something and then having his hands on his face. So wash those little hands and his face, and you will be doing a lot to decrease his risk of picking up something.
I hope this information helps and that your little one is soon feeling better!
Probably not a big risk from the coughing boy, but wash baby's hands, face.
Detailed Answer:
I can understand your concern. First I want to ask: does your 13 month old baby have any chronic illnesses, diagnosis of immune deficiencies, or is he significantly underweight? If not, he most likely has a healthy intact immune system which will be able to handle common infectious things that come his way.
He is on his 3rd infection but it sounds like previous infections have not been severe, and it also sounds like his immune system is getting his current fever and infection in check.
Assuming the older boy has a common upper respiratory infection, and if your baby contracts it, he will probably be able to fight it off. Complications could include ear infections and secondary bacterial infections such as pneumonia. Symptoms would be high fever that doesn't come down completely, bad cough.
Now I will assume the boy with the cough was not extremely ill, as he was able to walk in on his own and sit in the waiting room. So that is a good sign that what he had may not be anything really bad.
Also the boy was 10 feet away so not a big risk there. And you walked through the area a minute or two later. Again, not ideal but not a high risk.
There are some infections that can spread in a wide range via droplet nuclei, such as measles. But with most respiratory infections, the risk of getting them is not so much from being near a cough as with touching a contaminated surface with your hand and then inoculating yourself by touching either your nose or eyes. So your baby is much more likely to pick up something from that ER from having had his hands on something and then having his hands on his face. So wash those little hands and his face, and you will be doing a lot to decrease his risk of picking up something.
I hope this information helps and that your little one is soon feeling better!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
My husband was telling me that the little boy in the next room had hand foot and mouth disease. We never saw the doctor or nurse wash their hands, and the hand sanitizer dispenser in our room was not working... So I'm not sure if their hands were sanitized in between patients. The nurse that performed a strep test and rsv test on my son did not wear gloves while doing so, and my husband later pointed out to me that she didnt wash her hands. I am now so scared hes been exposed to hand foot and mouth disease. His fever is back up so he's not over whatever his body is fighting off now. I know that hand foot and mouth disease has a risk of viral meningitis and encephalitis. I just really have a bad feeling amd would like to know the incubation period and what to look out for with hand foot and mouth disease .
Brief Answer:
Incubation period is 4-6 dys.
Detailed Answer:
I can understand why you would be scared (and I would be upset that the nurse and doctor didn't wash their hands).
It is possible that they used hand sanitizer when leaving the last patient. Or there may have been one by their works station or hallway. Most ERs have hand sanitizer dispensers in many places. It's also possible that neither of them actually touched your son's eyes, nose, or mouth directly. Again, he is more likely to pick up something from his touching surfaces and inoculating himself.
The incubation for Hand Foot Mouth is 4-6 days. But to put things in perspective, your son is not an infant or newborn and has an intact developed immune system. And young children who have infections are often exposed to other children's infections concurrently, such as when there is an older sibling in the house who brings home infections from preschool or school (which may be where the little boy got his) and these kids are able to recover.
I hope this helps relieve your worry a bit. All you can do now is "watch and wait", but know that there is a good chance he wasn't exposed by the staff, and that if he does get it, he will be able to fight it off without severe complications.
Incubation period is 4-6 dys.
Detailed Answer:
I can understand why you would be scared (and I would be upset that the nurse and doctor didn't wash their hands).
It is possible that they used hand sanitizer when leaving the last patient. Or there may have been one by their works station or hallway. Most ERs have hand sanitizer dispensers in many places. It's also possible that neither of them actually touched your son's eyes, nose, or mouth directly. Again, he is more likely to pick up something from his touching surfaces and inoculating himself.
The incubation for Hand Foot Mouth is 4-6 days. But to put things in perspective, your son is not an infant or newborn and has an intact developed immune system. And young children who have infections are often exposed to other children's infections concurrently, such as when there is an older sibling in the house who brings home infections from preschool or school (which may be where the little boy got his) and these kids are able to recover.
I hope this helps relieve your worry a bit. All you can do now is "watch and wait", but know that there is a good chance he wasn't exposed by the staff, and that if he does get it, he will be able to fight it off without severe complications.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your response! I have been worried sick so thank you for answering my questions in such great detail!
Brief Answer:
Best regards -
Detailed Answer:
Being a parent, I know how worrisome it can be. I hope your little guy feels better each day.
Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Best regards -
Detailed Answer:
Being a parent, I know how worrisome it can be. I hope your little guy feels better each day.
Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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