From the Latin contagium, contagion is the transmission of a disease by immediate or immediate contact. A contagious disease, therefore, is one that a sick person can transmit to a healthy person.
For example: “I think the contagion occurred at school since, these days, there are several children with chickenpox”, “If you want to avoid contagion, you would have to wear a mask when entering the room”, “The use of A condom (or condom) is essential to minimize the risk of HIV infection ”.
The contagion of a disease, therefore, occurs when a healthy individual comes into direct or indirect contact with another who suffers from a certain infectious disease. Among the contagious diseases can be named those that are known as exanthematic, characterized by a rash on the skin.
The chickenpox, the measles, the measles and scarlet fever are some of the most contagious diseases known. It is frequent that it affects children and that the contagion occurs in the most common meeting places, such as school, a club or a square. When a child contracts this disease, he can pass it on to all those around him. That is why it is necessary that, once the contagious disease is detected, the patient secludes himself or takes certain precautions to avoid spreading the infection.
Chickenpox
Chickenpox is a viral infection that produces a series of very itchy blisters all over the human body. In the past, it was one of the common childhood illnesses, but since a vaccine was found to deal with it, its occurrence has decreased considerably.
The name of the virus that causes it is varicella zoster and belongs to the family of the herpesvirus. One of the most worrying characteristics of chickenpox is its risk of contagion, since it is very high. Just being near an infected person while sneezing is enough to become infected, and the same happens when exposing yourself to the liquid contained in one of the blisters.
But that is not all; the person with chickenpox does not need to be at an advanced stage for contagion to occur. In fact, chickenpox is contagious almost two days before the blisters appear and continues to be so until all of them have dried.
Most cases of chickenpox occur in children who have not yet reached the age of 10 and are usually mild, although there can be serious complications, especially in adolescents and adults.
Rubella
Rubella is an infection that causes a rash on the skin and is also known as the German measles. There is talk of congenital rubella when a pregnant woman transmits her baby.
The cause of this disease is a virus that is spread by close contact or through the air. Rubella infection can occur from a week before the rash appears to two weeks after it disappears. Similar to what happens with chickenpox, thanks to the massification of its vaccine, which also fights measles and mumps, rubella is not as common today as it was a few decades ago.
Even for those who have received the vaccine in childhood, to avoid contagion in adulthood, especially in case of pregnancy, there is a highly recommended booster.
Other uses
In a symbolic sense, it is known as contagion to all kinds of transmission that develops through influences of various kinds. It is possible to infect habits, customs, trends, attitudes, etc.: “The contagion effect of the European crisis will come to America sooner or later”, “The singer managed to spread his enthusiasm to the public in the room. “
