12 Things You Think Are Contagious—But Aren’t
Updated: Jul. 02, 2019
Just because something looks bad doesn't mean it's contagious—and that includes these icky diseases, disorders, and infections.
How can you tell if something’s contagious?
If you’re not sure what condition someone has and you’re not a medical professional, you probably won’t be able to tell. Visible symptoms for contagious and non-contagious diseases can seem identical, and the mode of transmission depends on the particular disease. “There is not a single relationship between the cause of an infection and its contagiousness, as there are bacterial diseases that are contagious and others that are not,” explains Amesh Adalja, MD, an infectious disease physician and Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, adding that the same is true for the world’s smorgasbord of viruses. And then there are the conditions caused by a malfunctioning immune system or environmental factors. The bottom line: It’s never a bad idea to take safety precautions. “Overall,” says Dr. Adalja, “being vaccinated and frequent handwashing are good practices regardless.” Check out these diseases you can prevent just by washing your hands.
Pneumonia
Whether or not this lung infection is contagious depends on what caused it. Two types of pneumonia that can’t be spread from person to person are fungal pneumonia, which is contracted from the environment, and aspiration pneumonia, which occurs when food or liquid is inhaled into the lungs. On the other hand, bacterial and viral pneumonia—which cause most cases of pneumonia, according to the American Lung Association—are indeed contagious, though not in the way you might think. “The causative microorganism may move between people but may not automatically cause pneumonia,” says Dr. Adalja. “For example, some bacteria may just colonize the nasal passages, while influenza, which can cause pneumonia, may cause bronchitis in another individual.”
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Legionnaires’ disease
An outbreak doesn’t always result from an infected person or animal. In the case of Legionnaires’ disease, a contaminated water supply is the culprit: Transmission only occurs when a person inhales mist or water droplets that contain the bacteria Legionella. According to the National Institutes for Health, exposure can come from faucets, showers, whirlpools and the ventilation systems of large buildings. While this rare form of pneumonia can be severe and deadly, not everyone who is exposed to it will contract it. People at particular risk include those over 50, especially if they have a weakened immune system or chronic illness.
Psoriasis
This skin disorder has nothing to do with germs or bacteria. “Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the skin,” explains Dr. Adalja. “It is not caused by a microorganism that can be passed between people.” Telltale signs include red, itchy patches of skin topped by white or silvery scales that are often found on the elbows, knees, and scalp; they occur when the body creates and accumulates new skin cells too quickly.
Don’t miss these home remedies for eczema and psoriasis.
Ear infections
The good news: You can’t catch an ear infection. The bad news: If a germ caused this painful malady instead of, say, water in your ears, you can catch that germ responsible—and the most common culprit is a cold virus. “Due to congestion caused by the cold, the inner ear fills up with fluid and can become secondarily infected by bacteria; these stay in the ear and are therefore not contagious,” explains Matthew Mintz, MD, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine and an internal medicine and primary care doctor in Bethesda, MD. “However, since the ear infection started with a cold, if the patient still has cold symptoms, they can still be contagious.” While ear infections can affect individuals of all ages, they more commonly hit children.
Here’s why you should think twice before cleaning your ears.
Rosacea
This non-contagious skin condition causes redness, visible blood vessels in the face, and sometimes small bumps filled with pus. Less commonly, rosacea can also lead to a thickening of the skin on the nose. While experts aren’t sure what causes this condition, they theorize that genetics, abnormal facial blood vessels, and possibly even the gut bacteria H. pylori may play a role. The National Rosacea Society explains that antibiotics used to treat rosacea may be effective because they help to combat inflammation, not because they’re killing bacteria.
Find out the benefits of probiotics.
Bronchitis
Much like pneumonia, some forms of bronchitis are contagious and others are not: It depends on what’s causing the inflammation of the bronchial airways and the resulting coughing, wheezing, and general breathing difficulties. Acute bronchitis, which usually results from an upper respiratory infection that travels to the chest, is often caused by a virus and is contagious. Hundreds of viruses, as well as some bacteria, can potentially lead to bronchitis, and you can catch them when germs enter your mucous membranes through your eyes, nose, or mouth. Chronic bronchitis, however, isn’t contagious. This ongoing condition is often caused by long-term smoking or exposure to environmental pollutants.
Be aware of these lung cancer signs.
Lyme disease
Infected ticks are the only contagious things you need to worry about in terms of Lyme disease, according to the CDC—and only if they attach to your body and feast on your blood. That means that you can’t catch this bacteria-based disease from other people, whether it’s through casual contact, kissing, or even sex. Pets can’t infect you either, though they can carry ticks into your home. Fever, fatigue, and a distinctive bull’s eye around the infected site are among the early symptoms of Lyme disease, while later on, people may develop severe joint pain, debilitating headaches, tingling in their hands or feet, and brain and spinal cord inflammation.
Find out what you can do to prevent and treat Lyme disease.
Poison ivy
Just looking at a poison ivy rash may make you feel itchy, but it’s all in your head. Poison ivy cannot be transmitted to another person, even if you touch the rash or the fluid from a blister. Transmission can only happen if your skin comes in contact with the plant’s oil—called urushiol—which can happen either through direct contact with it or if it gets on your clothing or pets—and then you snuggle or pet them. Wondering if that rash is poison ivy? According to the Mayo Clinic, it will often present in a straight line, if you’ve brushed up against the plant. However, if it’s gotten onto your clothing or your beloved pup’s fur, the rash might be more haphazard and expansive.
You’ll be thankful you know these poison ivy remedies.
Malaria
This potentially deadly infectious disease is not a contagious one—meaning that it can’t be transmitted from person to person. You get it from mosquitos—when they bite you, they release the malaria parasites into your bloodstream. You’ll get symptoms like fever, flu-like symptoms, gastrointestinal issues, and jaundice. However: Malaria infects red blood cells, the CDC warns, and that means you could get it through a blood transfusion, by sharing an infected needle, or during pregnancy or childbirth.
Urinary tract infections
While urinary tract infections (UTIs) often pop up after sex, they are not sexually transmitted or otherwise contagious. Instead, they occur when bacteria, often from the anus, enters the urethra. “Sexual intercourse can increase this spread, but this is through physical contact that helps contaminate the urethra,” explains Dr. Mintz, “not from an infection spreading from one partner to another.” He adds that women tend to get UTIs more frequently than men because of the close proximity of these two body parts; what’s more, the infection can happen in a lot of different ways—not just via intercourse. If you’re battling a UTI, you may want to avoid sex to prevent discomfort and allow your body to heal.
Men suffer from bladder leakage too—learn more about the condition.
Lockjaw
The scarier, more colloquial term for tetanus, lockjaw causes intense muscle spasms and a “locking” of the jaw, which makes it difficult to open your mouth or swallow. But infected people aren’t contagious. Instead, the bacteria responsible for this disease live in the environment, in soil, and on many surfaces, and enters the body via broken skin, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. The CDC points out that likely ways to get tetanus are through puncture wounds (like from a stepped-on nail), wounds that get dirt or feces in them, burns, or crush injuries. People can protect themselves against tetanus with a vaccine, followed by booster shots every 10 years.
Cellulitis
While you need to take cellulitis seriously since it can cause life-threatening bacteremia or endocarditis, you generally don’t have to worry about transmitting it to someone else. That’s because this infection is caused by bacteria that live on your skin—and are often harmless: Group A streptococci and S. aureus are two common culprits, according to the Cleveland Clinic; they’re only a problem when they penetrate deep through breaks in your skin. “If there is damage—either from a cut, recent surgery, or even athlete’s foot—that damage can allow in bacteria, which can affect the deeper layers of the skin,” explains Dr. Mintz. This can result in a serious infection characterized by pain, redness, swelling, tenderness, and fluid-filled blisters. “There are generally no precautions that need to be taken [to prevent transmission],” adds Dr. Mintz, “though if there is pus or oozing fluid, which is not typical in cellulitis, this material can spread infection.”
Next, check out the 50+ health symptoms you should never ignore.
