Cold Advice: Beat The Bug Or Stay Away

The worst thing workers can do if struck down by cold or flu-like symptoms is persist in coming to work, according to Workers Health Centre deputy director Denise Mowbray.

She says this not only stands in the way of recovery, but carries a likely risk of the illness being transferred to workmates and anyone else in the flight path of coughs, sneezes and wheezes.

She says workers who contract the flu at work are entitled to take sick leave and can sometimes be entitled to workers compensation.

Meanwhile Dr Jane Roberts says that while cold and flu symptoms are quite different from each other, both are highly contagious droplet born infections, with an incubation period of just a few days after exposure.

Influenza often begins with the sudden onset of a headache, muscle aches, and fever and is sometimes followed by a cough or runny nose.

The symptoms of colds generally follow the reverse order, beginning with the sniffles or a sore throat then sometimes progressing to headaches and a fever, she says.

Dr Roberts says best thing workers can do if they contract either the flu or a cold is to get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids, take pain relief as required and allow for about three days of work.

She also recommends beating the bug early with a flu vaccination given while well, early in the season.

The Workers Health Centre is currently arranging flu vaccinations for workers in the Lidcombe area.

Meanwhile the World Health Organisation has revised its fact sheet on influenza, available at http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/2003/fs211/en/.

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Last modified: Tuesday, 15-Nov-2005 20:37:38 EST