If you buy something through a link on this page, we may earn a small commission. How this works. Overview Your head’s stuffed up, your throat’s sore, and your body aches like you were run over by a truck. You feel miserable enough to stay home, but you worry that work demands don’t give you the luxury. Before you pack up your tissues and head into the office, consider your co-workers who’d rather not share your germs. Sneezing, fever, and a hacking cough are all signs that you could be contagious. Even if you feel all right, your symptoms — or lack thereof — could be deceiving. Even with mild illnesses, you can spread germs, too. Here’s how to tell whether you’re contagious and if you need to stay home.

Am I contagious? Each time you sneeze or cough due to a respiratory infection, you release germ-filled droplets into the air. Those bacteria- or virus-filled particles can fly up to 6 feet — making anyone near you a target. You also spread bacteria and viruses when you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth and then touch surfaces with those germy fingers. Certain cold and flu germs can survive on surfaces such as countertops, doorknobs, and phones for up to 24 hours. In general, here’s how long you’re contagious with these common illnesses: Illness When you’re first contagious When you’re no longer contagious Flu 1 day before symptoms start 5-7 days after you get sick with symptoms Cold 1-2 days before symptoms start 2 weeks after you’re exposed to the virus Stomach virus Before symptoms start Up to 2 weeks after you’ve recovered You might still be contagious when you go back to work or school. To protect people around you, take the following steps: wash your hands often with warm water and soap

warn others that you’ve been sick so they can remember to wash their hands, too

sneeze or cough into your elbow, not your hands

consider wearing a respiratory mask Share on Pinterest

When to stay home When deciding whether to stay home, consider your symptoms. If you have a mild tickle in your throat or a stuffy nose, you should be able to go to work. Allergy symptoms also don’t need to keep you from work. They’re not contagious. If you’re really coughing and sneezing or you feel generally miserable, stay home. Also, avoid the office if you’re vomiting or have diarrhea. Get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids, and wait for your symptoms to subside. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends staying home for 24 hours after a fever and other flu-like symptoms (chills, sweating, flushed skin) have cleared up.

Respiratory allergies Your sneezing, sniffling nose, and watery eyes might not be contagious at all. If they happen at certain times of the year (like spring) and they stick around for a few weeks or months, you could have allergies. Allergies can be triggered by irritants in your environment such as: pollen

pet dander

dust mites

mold One way to tell the difference between allergies and a contagious infection is that allergies typically don’t cause symptoms such as fever and body aches. Avoiding your triggers is the best way to ward off allergy symptoms. To relieve allergy symptoms when they happen, try taking one or more of these medications: Antihistamines block the effects of histamine. Your immune system releases this chemical when you have an allergic reaction. Some antihistamines can make you tired. They can also cause other side effects such as constipation and dry mouth.

block the effects of histamine. Your immune system releases this chemical when you have an allergic reaction. Some antihistamines can make you tired. They can also cause other side effects such as constipation and dry mouth. Decongestants narrow blood vessels in your nose to bring down swelling and reduce running. These drugs can make you jittery, keep you awake at night, and increase your blood pressure or heart rate.

narrow blood vessels in your nose to bring down swelling and reduce running. These drugs can make you jittery, keep you awake at night, and increase your blood pressure or heart rate. Nasal steroids control inflammation and related swelling in your nose. Some steroid solutions can dry out your nose or cause nosebleeds. Shop for antihistamines.