Work in a school should I go in with viral conjunctivitis?

[Zofloramummy]

So I have a dilemma, I’m just at the end of a 2 week isolation period due to my dd’s class bubble bursting. I work in a secondary school as a one to one teaching assistant with a child who has vulnerable health conditions.

I’m not feeling very well, I’m tired and achy, I’ve got conjunctivitis in my eye affecting my vision and a sore throat. I’ve no idea how I’ve managed to catch something having been locked up for 2 weeks!! However it doesn’t fit any of the Covid symptoms so I’m not surprised panning in getting tested as I suspect it is a different winter virus.

However what do I do about work? Conjunctivitis is highly contagious and I feel poorly but I’m aware that it’s going to look terrible to be off sick straight after a two week absence (one week was half term) for Covid.

Advice anyone?

*planning on, no idea how surprised came up 😊

Ask your manager.

Well, they are not the three main symptoms but it certainly could be. I would ask gp for advice they may suggest a test.

I rang 111 and they suggested I got tested, I’m booked into a walk-in tomorrow.

Also found some research that links conjunctivitis with Covid. That’s not great

Public Health England guidance is that children should NOT be excluded from school or nursery due to conjunctivitis. So the answer to your thread title is yes, there's no reason why you can't work in a school while you have conjunctivitis.

The real issue is that you're tired, achy, and have blurred vision. Speak to your line manager, but as a general rule, if you're not feeling well enough to work, you shouldn't go to work!

Let us know how you get on - I'd be really interested to know because just before and into lockdown I caught conjunctivitis from my youngest ( they had it mild ) none of if had ever had it before and I had it the worst! Bloody awful literally pouring out 🤢Woke up Mother's Day and couldn't open one eye - I also felt groggy like a hangover for a week . So it makes me wonder ! Hope you feel better soon x

My friend had tv bad conjunctivitis and some other symptoms, Itchy sore eyes and a sore throat at the start of lockdown ...... Covid !

I'd be staying home

It doesn’t matter if it won’t look good, you can’t go to work with a highly contagious disease like viral conjunctivitis.

Hope you are feeling ok OP x

I had conjunctivitis when I had Covid.

I’ve basically slept all afternoon, I’ve no appetite and things taste off. I’ve also got mid back/shoulder blade aches and I feel wiped out. My plans to carve a pumpkin (thank you Tesco in-line delivery) and watch a scary movie with dd haven’t happened. I seem to be brighter in the mornings so we are going to delay Halloween until tomorrow. I’m feeling a bit sorry for myself to be honest!

@ScrapThatThen thank you

@BoulangerieBabs that’s interesting, what other early symptoms did you have?

Things taste off? Does sound like it could be Covid OP. Spoke to a colleague this week whose only symptoms were a cold and bloodshot eyes (positive test). Get well soon.

Everything you’ve said could be Covid.

NHS website says there's no need to stay away from work or school for conjunctivitis sonic it was "just" that you should go to work but if you're not well enough you're not well enough.

Feel better soon.

Changes to sense of taste can be a symptom so I think you would definitely be reasonable to isolate with your household, including not going to work/ school, until you gave your test result back.

Sounds like you need a test.

[quote Zofloramummy]@ScrapThatThen thank you

@BoulangerieBabs that’s interesting, what other early symptoms did you have?[/quote]
I just felt a bit off, had bloodshot eyes that became increasingly gunky and I had the feeling of a uti.

Please stay at home. Noone needs conjunctivitis on top of everything else at the minute!

@FippertyGibbett I’ve had a test this morning at my local walk in centre.

Seriously? You have at best a sore throat, you have conjunctivitis and you work 1-1 with a child with health conditions.

And you think you should go in and pass that lot to the child? I can't believe you even need to ask.

@ShesMadeATwatOfMePam the nhs info on conjunctivitis stares that you can attend work and school (despite it being highly contagious). I’ve just been off for 2 weeks in isolation. As a single income household being in employment is a necessity. My symptoms have worsened over the last 24hrs and I have emailed my boss to say I won’t be in until I get my test result and I’m feeling better. I was asking for others opinions not stating I thought I should go in, I feel very guilty for being off.

You’ve done the right thing, hope you feel better soon.