Feeling Sick? When to Stay Home
Three questions to help you decide
Uh-oh. You woke up and something’s off. Your throat is sore and you’ve got a rattling cough. Or maybe gastrointestinal symptoms, like nausea or diarrhea. You’re feeling distinctly under the weather.
But there’s work to do, or classes to attend, or errands to be run or appointments to be kept. So, when should you tough it out and when should you give in and just surrender to the sick bed?
Awareness of outbreaks during flu season and beyond
In early January, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control announced the early arrival of flu season in its weekly FluView report. And it’s already the most severe in a decade. Add other highly contagious illness outbreaks—like norovirus and pertussis—to the mix, and just one person’s decision to go out could potentially infect hundreds, even thousands more.
Recognizing “stay home” warning signs can help make the whole community safer. (If you’re traveling or just want to limit your public exposure during peak flu season, you can track national flu patterns with some apps for smart phones; the CDC’s own version is called “Flu Tracker.”)
Making the call
“It’s not always a black-and-white issue when you’re considering how sick is too sick to go into work,” says Craig Uejo, MD, medical director of occupational health and wellness for Scripps Health. “If you can get into your doctor’s office to get his or her advice, that’s best, not just for yourself, but for your family and coworkers.”
But if you can’t get in, try to use these guidelines to help you decide whether you should take a day or two at home to recover.
- Are you contagious?
If you have a cough accompanied by a fever higher than 100.3 degrees Fahrenheit, chills and/or body aches, it’s likely you may be contagious. While there are many illnesses which can lead to such symptoms, infections from things such as influenza can cause you to be highly contagious one day before symptoms develop and up to seven days after becoming ill. Likewise, if your symptoms are digestive (nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea), stay home until you’re feeling better. But if you have a simple dry cough with no fever, it’s probably safe to go to work or other public places.
- Are you a danger to yourself or others?
People who try to approach every single illness with a stoic “tough it out” mindset—going to the office no matter what—may think they’re doing a responsible thing, but in the long run, they may take longer to get better. “Not taking time off when you’re legitimately sick will often result in a more severe and longer illness, which ultimately makes you far less productive,” says Dr. Uejo.
- Will you be productive?
In the past decade, researchers in the field of occupational health have recognized a syndrome called “presenteeism” (as opposed to absenteeism), in which workers report to work but are either physically, mentally or emotionally unable to do their jobs effectively or responsibly. If you suspect you will be able to be physically present at your workplace, but unable to focus or complete tasks accurately or safely, consider staying home.
After your return
Even after recovering from a contagious illness, be sure to practice good hygiene. “If you’re going into work feeling a bit off, be considerate,” says Dr. Uejo. “Wash your hands frequently.” Also, use disinfectant wipes to clean all the surfaces you know you touched before you became ill, including telephones, keyboards, mice, drawer handles and chair arms. If you must cough or sneeze, do so into your sleeve or a disposable tissue. And be sure to go through your home with the same attention to germ-killing detail, to prevent a recurrence and another round of “uh-oh.”
Find a primary care physician
Your primary care physician can help you stay healthy during cold and flu season. Call 1-800-SCRIPPS (1-800-727-4777) if you need help finding a physician who’s right for you.
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