I had a cough, cold, sneezing, bloody sputum and tested negative for COVID. Can I return to work?

Question

Hello doctor,

I suffered from cough, sneezing, and cold before eight days. I also noticed blood in my sputum two times. I was tested negative for COVID-19 infection. I feel better overall but I need a note for my illness to return back to work.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thank you for the query.

I can understand your concern. According to your statement, you suffered from sneezing, coughing and blood mixed sputum for the past nine days. You were COVID-19 negative (Coronavirus Disease-2019). Now, you feel better. I do not understand what kind of note you need to return to work.

As you have a history of coughing and sputum mixed blood, I suggest you do an x-ray or HRCT (high-resolution computed tomography) of the chest to exclude other causes. In some cases, COVID-positive patients can become false negative in RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) result. For those patients, HRCT of the chest is the gold standard test. Again, pneumonia, tuberculosis, bronchitis, and some other diseases can present with such types of clinical features.

Do you need a medical fitness certificate for joining your work again? If yes, you should consult your doctor, who has advised you to do an RT-PCR test for COVID-19. Without examining you physically and watching the investigation reports, it is difficult for any physician to declare you physically fit to return to work. So, you should visit your doctor, who has already advised you to undergo RT-PCR for the COVID-19 test, as he has already examined you physically.

Take care.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

After examining a patient physically, a doctor can declare anyone physically fit and mentally sound for joining his work. I do not know how I can help you. I think your company will not accept any medical fitness certificate from here. If your company accepts your COVID-19 negative result, then you can quickly join your work again. If possible, kindly visit a doctor physically so that they can provide you a medical fitness certificate after examining you personally.

Thanks.