Are you too sick to go to work? Here's how to tell

tt Oh, the joy of not being able to swallow without being in pain. It can be a tough call whether to take a sick day when your throat is killing you. If it’s mild and comes with a runny nose, the onset of symptoms is the most infectious period because of a high viral load; that would be the time to stay home, but you could be contagious for up to a week and missing that much work isn’t necessary. These symptoms could be the result of a virus that will go away on its own (antibiotics won’t do any good). Lozenges and acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help reduce your suffering while you sit at your desk. However, a sore throat could also be the sign of a bacterial infection like strep. Typically pain in the throat is severe and comes on suddenly; other symptoms include headache and fever and call for a doctor’s visit