How Long Should I Stay Home If I'm Sick?

It's that time of year again, cold and flu season. 

I have been VERY careful about avoiding germs, but a colleague came to work while she was sick and it is quickly spreading through the office. I was very frustrated, because she's not that important. 

I don't mean that in a bad way, it's just that her job isn't critical, she can miss a day or two if she's sick.

Instead, she insisted on coming to work with a fever and spread her illness to the rest of us. I'm the only one with asthma, so naturally, I'm the sickest.

I'm lucky that the kids are in school, and Hubby is at work, so I had a quiet house to recuperate in. Which means I also got the remote to myself and could watch whatever I wanted.

If you are sick, when should you stay home from work? 

According to the Centers for Disease Control:

How long should I stay home if I’m sick?

"CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other things you have to do and no one else can do for you. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol®.) You should stay home from work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings".

If you want to read more about the Center's for Disease Control's article "The Flu: What to do if you get sick" click here.

Yes, we're all busy. And yes, we all have things to do. 

But you aren't doing anyone a favor by coming to work or school if you are sick. One thing that people don't understand is that when they have a cold or flu, that's all it is to them.

For those of us with asthma, it can easily turn into pneumonia or bronchitis. That means a trip to the doctor, emergency room, or even being admitted to the hospital. 

My two youngest kids (now teenagers) have been in the hospital 12 times for their asthma - and almost all of those admissions were due to pneumonia. 

If you are sick, STAY HOME!!!!! 

I don't appreciate getting sick because then I have to take time off work. And stay home with cold washcloths on my forehead, Advil for the fever, plus breathing treatments and boxes of tissues.  

I had to call and ask colleagues to take care of pressing obligations for me the day that I was out sick. 

See, you can stay home when you are sick. 

Stay home, take care of yourself, and DON'T go out in public and spread your misery.

There, I'm done ranting now. 

 Thank you.