If you've got a tickle in the back of your throat or it feels like mucus is dripping into that area from your nose, your cough is probably from allergies or a cold. But unless you've got other symptoms like aches or fever, get dressed and go to work!
What's smartest is to stay home for the worst of the illness-about two to four days for a severe cold and five to seven days for the flu, Saxinger said. "When you're feeling your worst, try not to be out and about; that's when you are most infectious."
If you've had cold symptoms for 10 days or fewer and you've been fever-free for 24 hours, you're probably safe to go to work.
You can spread the common cold from a few days before your symptoms appear until all of the symptoms are gone. Most people will be contagious for up to 2 weeks. Symptoms are usually worse during the first 2 to 3 days, and this is when you're most likely to spread the virus.
Cover coughs and sneezes and wash hands even after you return to work or school. Keep in mind that even if your symptoms don't include a fever, you still may have the flu and may be contagious.
If your fever is 100.5 degrees or higher, stay home. Other signs that you're too sick to go to work include: Coughing. Runny nose.
The stages of a cold include the incubation period, appearance of symptoms, remission, and recovery. The common cold is a mild upper respiratory infection caused by viruses.
Covering sneezes and coughs is a key strategy for minimizing the spread of colds. Ideally you use a tissue like Puffs to cover your sneeze or to cover your cough. If you don't have time to grab a tissue, sneeze into your elbow or upper sleeve instead of your hand.
Headache - As mucus begins to build up, it clogs your sinuses and creates pressure that leads to a dull, throbbing headache. Tiredness - Feeling weak and tired is a symptom of most viruses. If you've not got your usual energy, it could be a sign that your cold is about to make a grand entrance.
If you have a cold or the flu and have moist and frequent coughing, you are still contagious and the cough will spread the virus to those around you. 4 In this case, it is best to stay home until the cough calms down or does not bring up phlegm. Frequent, deep coughing is disruptive to the work environment.
Are you contagious? Just as you wouldn't want to be exposed to germs from a co-worker, they don't want you getting them sick, either. If you are coughing, blowing a runny nose, vomiting, have a sore throat or have a fever above 100 degrees, there is a good chance you may be contagious.
As a general rule, your child should not go to school if they have: A fever over 100.4° Fahrenheit (F) or 38° Celsius (C) – Your child can return to school after they've been fever-free for 24 hours without antipyretics. Antipyretics are medicines that treat or prevent fever. Signs they are weak and tired.
Cold versus the flu
While a cold can be miserable, it will typically only keep you out of work for two to three days. The flu, on the other hand, can keep you sick for several weeks. Usually cold symptoms are less severe than the flu.
The short, simple answer is DO NOT go to work if you have a sore throat, especially if you aren't sure why. A sore throat could mean the presence of an underlying infection.
Employees can choose to take a sick day when the state of their physical health inhibits their work performance. Most businesses only allow an allotted amount of sick days for employees per year.
If you leave home when you're sick, you could get other people sick, too. Certain symptoms, like a fever, a sore throat; vomiting and diarrhea, or a contagious rash are good signs that you need to take a sick day.
Some people stop everything at the first signs of a serious cold, stomach bug, or other illness. That might seem extreme, but it is a good idea to call in sick and take a pause to rest and regroup before you become seriously ill, especially those who are working in-person.
When writing or sharing your request over the phone, be honest and keep it brief. For example, “I'm not feeling well today, so it's best I stay home. I'll let you know if I'm better tomorrow,” is an acceptable way to call in sick.
The common cold is very easily spread to others. It's often spread through airborne droplets that are coughed or sneezed into the air by the sick person. The droplets are then inhaled by another person. Symptoms may include a stuffy, runny nose, scratchy, tickly throat, sneezing, watery eyes and a low-grade fever.
Stage 2 of a cold is days four through seven. Many people find that their symptoms get worse and peak during this time. It is not uncommon for your sore throat to disappear quickly after it starts. You may develop a fever, but this is more common in children than adults.
DAY 4 to 7:
In the peak stage of a cold, your symptoms may reach their maximum intensity, resulting in effects such as a runny nose, cough, sinus/nasal congestion, body aches, headache and fatigue. In some, cases, this may also lead to a fever.
Within 7–10 days , people will usually start to recover from a cold. Symptoms begin to ease up, and people will start feeling better. People may also find that they have more energy and are more able to carry out tasks as usual.