Should You Power Through or Rest? Managing Upper Respiratory Tract Infections at Work

Upper respiratory infections (URTIs), which encompass the common cold and influenza, are among the most common health issues for workers globally.

Is it advisable to continue working or should they opt for a leave of absence to “take a break from work” for people suffering from URTI?

It is challenging when you’re already behind on tasks or under pressure to meet deadlines. We will explore how to manage upper respiratory tract infection at work, rest, and balance the need to work.

What are Upper Respiratory Tract Infections?

Before deciding whether to continue working or take some rest, know what is upper respiratory infection (URTI).

Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are infectious diseases affecting the nose, sinuses, pharynx, larynx, and upper airways

What are its Symptoms?

The most common symptoms of upper respiratory infections include:

• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Sore throat
• Congestion
• Runny nose
• Fatigue
• Headaches

The flu-like symptoms at work—fever, body aches, and chills—can make performing even simple tasks feel like a struggle. They can vary in severity, from mild discomfort to full-blown illness, and last anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks.

Also Read: What Is An Upper Respiratory Tract Infection?

When to Take Time Off for a Cold?

One of the challenges facing a lot of staff is knowing when to stay off sick with a “cold” when the symptoms are mild.

At those times, it feels all too tempting to soldier through the rest of the workday. Nonetheless, there are many aspects to bear in mind about illness and work.

Contagion Risk: A major factor in staying home is to prevent the infection from being transmitted to your colleagues.

Upper respiratory infections are very easily communicable, and for viruses such as common cold and influenza they can be readily spread in the air, by contact, or on contaminated surfaces.

If you’re unsure, it’s always a good idea to check with your healthcare provider about the contagious period for your specific illness.

Severity of Symptoms: If you have more than just common cold symptoms, [ie, fever, body aches, and substantial fatigue], then you need to rest.

Pushing through can worsen your condition and lead to secondary infections making it more difficult to concentrate at work, lowering your productivity and performance.

Long-Term Health Consequences: Excessive work during illness leads to fatigue and, as a consequence, to slow recovery.

Workplace Environment: Certain tasks may involve a level of physical contact with other people that increases risk of transmission.

If you’re working in close quarters or a customer-facing role, it’s crucial to consider the health and safety of your colleagues and clients.

An ill worker poses a risk of infecting the whole work team and, in turn, compromising the work output of the company.

Time off may be in your best interest in terms of health and your colleagues.

What is the Treatment for URTIs?

• URTIs can resolve without treatment, or symptoms can be treated at home with:
  • Pain relief medication 
  • Anesthetic sprays and lozenges 
  • Decongestants 
  • Antihistamines 
  • Resting 
  • Drinking plenty of fluids 
  • Increasing indoor humidity levels

Complications

While most people recover from URTIs without complications, some may develop pneumonia. Ear infections can cause more severe complications, such as deafness and acute rheumatic fever.

Prevention

You can prevent URTIs by: 

• Washing your hands frequently with soap and water 
• Avoiding being in close contact with people who are sick 
• Wiping down objects that may be touched by people in the house who have a URTI 
• Covering your mouth and nose if you’re sick 
• Staying home if you’re sick 

How to Manage Colds at Work?

There are circumstances where you have decisions to about your health. If your symptoms are flu-like but you can work, then possibly the following tips will help you cope with a common cold and remain productive at the job.

Remain Hydrated: One of the ways of dealing with upper respiratory tract infections while at work is by making sure that there is ample fluid intake. But, warm water, herbal teas, and clear broths may be useful in moistening the throat and clearing the congestion.

Over-the-counter Medications: OTC medications may be used for treating cold symptoms such as nasal congestion, and nasal and throat irritation. Just watch out for some common side effects.

Always Give Yourself Time to Recover: Regular breaks can assist the body in recovering energy and increase stamina.

Physical exercises, a change of environment, or even a short pause can alleviate feelings of fatigue and make it possible to go on with work.

Practice Good Hygiene: However, if he/she has a cold at work, it is crucial to maintain good hygiene practices to prevent any further contagions.

Wash your hands frequently, cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, and use disinfectant wipes to clean surfaces you’ve touched. This will help minimize the risk of passing the infection on to your coworkers.

Work from Home: A lot of employers provide flexible work hours so that employees can work from home if they have a cold.

If your role can be performed remotely, consider discussing the possibility of working from home with your supervisor.

This allows you to continue working while minimizing the risk of infecting others and enabling you to rest when needed.

Also Read: How to Care for Kids with URTI: Causes, Symptoms, Remedies

When to Rest?

While there are steps you can take to manage an upper respiratory infection at work, sometimes the best option is to stay home and rest.

Fever: Fever often represents an acquisition response from the host to a disease-causing pathogen. However, this can be physiologically taxing, and the stress of extended application of fever would further depress the immune response and prolong recovery.

Exhaustion: When you feel sluggish and weak, your body is telling you to rest. If you feel exhausted, working all day will drain you and give you burnout, prolonging your sickness.

Breathing: Even in science fiction writing you can only pull off so much while struggling to breathe; whether due to congested airways or pain when swallowing, I’d rather be resting and recovering. The inability to breathe well can also be a sign of angel infection that needs treatment.

Lingering symptoms: If your symptoms continue after a week or worsen despite self-care, it may be time to take time off from work and see a healthcare provider.

Conclusion

Working with an upper respiratory infection at work is difficult, and determining the right balance between “working through it” and taking time off is a critical factor in getting back on track quickly.

It is crucial to pay attention to how your body is functioning and to make decisions according to the degree of your symptoms and the risks associated with it, as regards your health, and the health of others present around you.

As sometimes even working through a cold or flu-like condition is feasible, (2) identify when it is important to take a rest to counteract long-term effects.

By successfully managing symptoms, by maintaining a high level of hygiene, and by communicating with your employer concerning your needs, it is possible to successfully manage the upper respiratory infection challenges at work.

In the end, taking time off to recover as needed will not only help to improve your health but also get you back to work in top shape.