How do you know when a child's illness is in the contagious stage? I run a daycare and would like to take the right precautions at the right time when kids get sick. – Yvette Most viral illnesses are contagious before a person has any symptoms. So an infected child can spread a virus before feeling sick. This makes it almost impossible to stop the spread of infections. Some childhood rashes — such as hand, foot, and mouth disease, chickenpox, and ringworm — spread through skin-to-skin contact. So kids with a rash should avoid contact with others until the spots crust over. The best way to fight germs and keep them from spreading is to make sure that kids (and adults!) wash their hands well and often, especially: after playing outside before eating after going to the bathroom after coughing or sneezing Also, teach the kids in your daycare to cover their coughs and sneezes. If they don't have a tissue handy, they should cough or sneeze into an elbow, not their hands. Back to Articles Related Articles Hand Washing: Why It's So Important Washing your hands well and often is the best way to keep from getting sick. Here's how to teach this all-important habit to your kids. Read More Germs: Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, and Protozoa Germs are the microscopic bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa that can cause disease. Read More Fighting Germs Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa can cause disease. Here's how to help protect your family from germs. Read More How Long Is Mono Contagious? If someone gets mono, the virus stays in that person's body for life. The virus may surface from time to time and possibly infect someone else. Here are the facts on how mono works. Read More Why Do I Need to Wash My Hands? Washing your hands is the best way to stop germs from spreading. Learn all about the best way to wash your hands in this article for kids. Read More Hand Washing: Why It's So Important Did you know that the most important thing you can do to keep from getting sick is to wash your hands? If you don't wash your hands frequently, you can pick up germs from other sources and then infect yourself. Read More What's the Difference Between Infectious and Contagious? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More Germs: Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, and Protozoa Germs are tiny organisms that can cause disease - and they're so small that they can creep into your system without you noticing. Find out how to protect yourself. Read More Diarrhea Most kids battle diarrhea from time to time, so it's important to know what to do to relieve and even prevent it. Read More Diarrhea Nearly everybody gets diarrhea every once in a while, and it's usually caused by gastrointestinal infections. It's nothing to be embarrassed about. Read this article to learn more. Read More What Are Germs? You know they can hurt you, but what are these invisible creatures? Find out in this article for kids. Read More Your Child's Immunizations Immunizations protect kids from many dangerous diseases. Find out what vaccines your child needs to grow up healthy. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.