Are you too sick to go to work?

Only half of all workers in the United States have paid sick days; even fewer can take paid leave to care for a child who is ill. Many go to work not feeling well - the stoic nature of our society has us working through the pain. Some workers go to work with back pain, allergies, arthritis and other conditions that impair their own performance and productivity. Others go to work with contagious illnesses that may infect others.

If you have questions about when to stay home, or keep your child home, Gundersen Health System recommends staying home if you:

• Have a cough accompanied by fever, chills, night sweats or generally not feeling well.
• Get a sore throat that is accompanied by fever, white spots on tonsils, swollen glands or skin rash.
• Are experiencing nasal congestion and the nasal secretions are so persistent that your hands cannot be washed after each tissue use or the congestion is accompanied by a fever or sinus pain and colored discharge.
• Begin feeling typical symptoms of influenza-combination of muscle aches, sore throat, cough, mild cough, runny nose, headache, light sensitivity or intestinal symptoms.
• Come down with gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea that are not related to a known non-infectious cause-medications, pregnancy, etc.

For more information talk with your primary care provider, call Gundersen Telephone Nurse Advisors at (608) 775-4454 or call Gundersen's Flu Line at (608) 775-0364.