“Am I still contagious?” For those serious about their jobs, a week spent in the bed recovering from the flu means major catch up work to do. How do you know if you’re ready to go back to work or send the kids back to school after a cold or the flu has interrupted your life?

If you’re recovering from the flu, the CDC recommends you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever has broken unless absolutely necessary. It’s important that your fever has gone down naturally and without the help of fever reducing medicines such as Tylenol. It’s fine to take Tylenol to lower your fever, just don’t go out in public until your fever has lowered by itself. Until then, you should stay home from work or school. You should also avoid travel, shopping, social events and parties.

The flu is serious, and can be  deadly if spread to the wrong person. Staying away from others as much as possible while you are sick is important to prevent the spread of illness. If you leave home to get medical care or other necessities, be courteous to those around you and wear a face mask to prevent the spread of germs. If you do not have a face mask handy,  cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and wash your hands often to prevent spreading the flu to others.

Whereas the  flu is dangerous, a cold is a different story. If you are recovering from a simple head or chest cold, it’s important that you take the first couple of days off. A cold is most contagious during the first 2 to 3 days, but it’s usually not contagious after the first week. Symptoms of a cold will get better gradually. If you’ve been off work or out of school for a couple days and you’re starting to feel better, you should be fine going to work even if your nose is still a little runny. Just carry plenty of tissues and hand sanitizer with you.

At EliteCare we know that your family’s needs don’t always fit into standard office hours. If you’re “lucky” enough to get sick on the weekend, you don’t have to wait until Monday to be treated. We stay open on weekends to make sure you and your family are well cared for. If you’re not feeling well, come by and see us on Saturday from 8 AM-12 PM or on Sunday from 1 PM-4 PM.