It’s a common problem—one person in your family gets sick and illness quickly spreads to other family members. While it isn’t always possible to avoid getting sick when someone in the house is contagious, there are steps you can take to help you not get sick.
Likewise, there’s much you can do to keep your family well ifyouare sick.
This article provides tips for you and others in your household to avoid getting sick and when to see a healthcare provider.
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If Someone Else Is Sick
To keep yourself healthy when there’s a sick person in your house, limit your exposure to their germs and take good care of yourself.
Wash Your Hands
In addition to all the usual times you should wash your hands—such as after you use the bathroom and before you eat—you should also wash them whenever you touch things that sick family members have touched.
If soap and water are not available and your hands aren’t visibly soiled, usehand sanitizing gel or wipes.
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Clean Toys
Clean the toys that sick children have been playing with thoroughly and frequently.
Clean hard, plastic toys with hot soapy water and rinse well. If they are dishwasher safe, wash in the dishwasher with a sanitizer or a hot rinse cycle. Clean fabric and plush toys in the washing machine with hot water, and dry them in a clothes dryer on a hot cycle.
Do Not Share Food or Drinks
Avoid sharing food, drinks, as well as cups and eating utensils. Be sure to clean all dishes with hot water and soap after use.
Avoid Touching Your Face
It’s easy for germs to travel from your hands into your eyes, nose, or mouth. Wearing a mask can often help to keep your hands away from your face.
Sleep in Separate Rooms
If your partner or spouse is sick, sleep in separate rooms if possible. If this is not an option, at least try to sleep facing in opposite directions and wash your sheets frequently in hot water. Wearing a face mask while sleeping is another option.
Avoid Close Contact
Don’t share toothbrushes, and try not to let your toothbrush come in contact with the sick person’s toothbrush.
Keeping Your Toothbrush Germ Free
Take Care of Yourself
As a preventive measure, get aflu shotevery year, especially if you have young kids in the house.
Teach Good Hygiene
Teach your children to follow healthy habits like hand washing and sneezing into their elbow or a tissue. Kids bring all kinds of germs home from school or daycare, then spread them to other family members. Good health habits can help cut down on illness in your household.
If You’re the One Who’s Sick
Most of the above tips apply here as well, but you can do a few extra things to protect others in the household from getting your germs.
A Word From VerywellProtecting our loved ones can take on different forms when it comes to health. For instance, we may avoid our family when we ourselves are sick. We may go as far to avoid being in the same room with our family members or limiting shared items.—STEFFINI STALOS, DO, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Protecting our loved ones can take on different forms when it comes to health. For instance, we may avoid our family when we ourselves are sick. We may go as far to avoid being in the same room with our family members or limiting shared items.—STEFFINI STALOS, DO, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Protecting our loved ones can take on different forms when it comes to health. For instance, we may avoid our family when we ourselves are sick. We may go as far to avoid being in the same room with our family members or limiting shared items.
—STEFFINI STALOS, DO, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Cover Your Mouth
Throw Away Tissues
Throw your dirty tissues away immediately after using them. Leaving dirty tissues around can help spread germs around your house.
Wear a Face Mask
Try to Isolate
Try to isolate yourself in a small area of your home as much of the time as possible. Minimize time spent with family members and stick to a 6-foot distance when you’re in the same room to avoid germ transmission.
Limit Food Preparation
Try to avoid preparing food for others when you can. If you have to prepare a meal for someone, consider wearing a mask and gloves, and be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling food.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Sometimes, even your best efforts won’t prevent an illness from spreading through your family. Ifcold symptomsseem especially severe or last longer than 10 days, it’s always a good idea to check with your healthcare provider to make sure the cold hasn’t turned into something more serious.
For the flu, you can talk to your healthcare provider aboutmedications that can shorten the duration.
Summary
Although it isn’t always possible to avoid getting sick when someone in the house is contagious, there are steps you can take to reduce the transmission of germs if you or a family member is sick. Keeping hands and objects clean, avoiding close contact, and washing toys, dishware, and towels frequently are just a few ways to decrease the transmission of germs.
If symptoms get worse or take more than 10 days to improve, talk with your healthcare provider to determine if treatment is needed.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Ataee RA, Ataee MH, Mehrabi Tavana A, Salesi M.Bacteriological aspects of hand washing: A key for health promotion and infections control.Int J Prev Med. 2017;8(1):16. doi:10.4103/2008-7802.201923
Ottawa Public Health.Cleaning and disinfection of toys.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Healthy habits to help protect against flu.
ADA Division of Communications.Toothbrush care, cleaning and replacement.J Am Dent Assoc. 2006;137(3):415. doi:10.14219/jada.archive.2006.0193
Osterholm MT, Kelley NS, Sommer A, Belongia EA.Efficacy and effectiveness of influenza vaccines: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Lancet Infect Dis.2012;12(1):36-44. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(11)70295-X
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Everyday preventive actions can help fight germs, like flu. Updated October 2018.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Healthy habits to help prevent flu. Updated November 7, 2019.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Everyday preventive actions can help fight germs, like flu. Updated October 2018.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Healthy habits to help prevent flu. Updated November 7, 2019.
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