How long is someone contagious with flu?

[Judystilldreamsofhorses]

My DP has had what I think was proper flu - came on really suddenly, scarily unwell, and bedbound other than going to the toilet. He seems to have turned the corner now, and so far (touch wood!) I have avoided it. He’s been sleeping in the spare room, my hands are raw from so much washing, and I’ve been using a saline nasal rinse, plus I have been at work during the day.

It started last Saturday, does anyone know if he’s still contagious now the worst seems to be over? He still has a cough, but no fever now, seems much more himself, and has been able to get up and eat something today instead of soup in bed.

(It has been a bad week - I am not a natural nurse!)

Allegedly 5-7 days from symptoms starting, but I tend to think it's one of those things you can take every precaution and still get it as it's in the air or you can just get lucky and avoid it.

So not out of the woods yet! He’s gone to bed in the spare room now, but I felt so sorry for him and wondered if he would be okay back in our bed. The spare bed is quite uncomfy.

Could you swap beds, so you go in the spare room and he goes into yours? Give sheets a good hot wash in between.

I tend to think you're still infectious if you're coughing and sneezing, but I'm not sure whether I was told that or made it up!

He's contagious for as long as he has a fever. That was the 'rule' when I worked in an infectious diseases walk in clinic.

Flu is bloody awful, hope he feels better soon. Lots of fluids and rest and keep an eye out secondary infection.

Thank you. The fever seemed to break on Wednesday, so hopefully we’re okay. He slept in the spare room last night, then brought me tea this morning and came in with me in our bed, and he’s actually left the house today for the first time in a week. Hopefully he won’t overdo it!