Am I contagious?

[crunchy_mommy]

DS was sick Friday & Saturday... Sunday night I wasn't feeling too well & by Monday (yesterday) I was full-blown sick -- fever around 101, really sore throat, headache, couldn't function, super tired, achy. So today I am feeling much better but the sore throat is still there (definitely not as bad though).

So, would you stay home & assume you were still contagious? Or go on with normal activities? How long do you usually stay home when you're sick? I haven't been seriously ill since DS was born & seeing as we're around other kids all day (we have a big playdate this afternoon, for example) I feel like I need to be a lot more cautious. But I hate being stuck at home & usually getting out once I'm feeling a little better is really good for me.

[AFWife]

I'd give it another day, personally. Unless you really really have to go somewhere.

Do you still have a fever? That's usually what schools and whatnot go by...

[crunchy_mommy]

No, no more fever. I am 'running'/organizing the playdate (not at my house though) so I hate to cancel but I definitely don't want to get anyone sick!

[AFWife]

Well, you can go and tell everyone to stay away from you and encourage lots of hand washing.

[Ornery]

Personally I would not feel comfortable attending.

[crunchy_mommy]

Well we decided to go -- largely because we see everyone so frequently that chances are we'd already inadvertently exposed them (or caught it from them) the morning of the day DS later got sick. Not too convinced I made the right decision though :-/ I read somewhere that something like the common cold is contagious for up to 2 weeks AFTER you recover...

[tinuviel_k]

If you were acutely sick yesterday then I would not go today. I bet you are still contagious, and since you will definitely be around young children then it is not worth the risk of spreading around a virus just so the kids can have a playdate.

[crunchy_mommy]

Now I feel like a jerk.

This wasn't a regular play date, it was a unique opportunity that I knew DS would love (and frankly, I couldn't handle the thought of trying to entertain him when I wasn't feeling top-notch & we'd been cooped up way too long which always brings out the worst in him). I guess that was pretty selfish -- now all I can think about is hoping we didn't get anyone else sick.

ETA: I did alcohol swabs on anything we touched & avoiding close contact with everyone. But I guess next time we should skip it. How long do you usually avoid people when you/your kids are sick?? If you have a cold & are still contagious for 2 weeks after, do you avoid people for a whole 2+ weeks?