What Is the Incubation Period for Different Diseases, and Why Does It Matter? - #15214
I recently got exposed to someone who had the flu, and now I’m wondering—how long does it take for symptoms to appear? I read that the time between infection and the first symptoms is called the incubation period, but I don’t fully understand how it works. Does the incubation period vary depending on the disease? For example, I know that the flu and COVID-19 have different incubation periods, but what about other common infections like chickenpox, dengue, or strep throat? I also read that some diseases can be contagious before symptoms appear, while others aren’t. How do doctors determine the incubation period for a disease, and does it change depending on a person’s immune system? If anyone has ever had an illness where symptoms showed up later than expected, how long was your incubation period? Should I be taking precautions even if I don’t have symptoms yet?
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