Why are you contagious if you have a cold?

Answer 1

A cold is caused by a virus. A virus can be spread by various means depending on the type. Common cold viruses are usually transmitted by bodily fluids, and can be passed simply by someone sneezing or coughing into their hand and then touching something which is later touched by someone else.

Answer 2

Fever is one of the body's responses to infections. Most germs that cause infections (including the cold and flu) do not tolerate sustained heat well. The body uses this to weaken or kill the infecting organism and to trigger the body's immune system to "go to war." In some ways of looking at it, a fever is a good thing for this reason, and some medical professionals recommend not treating low grade fevers to allow the body to do what it needs to do to cure itself.

However, the temperatures at which treatments of fever are recommended can vary slightly from infection to infection, health and age of the person involved, etc. Generally, the thinking is, unless the fever goes over 102, it is better to not treat it unless other symptoms warrant this. Contact your health care professional (or her nurse) to ask about your particular situation and if the fever should be treated.