Your officemate has been coughing for days, his eyes are red, and his nose is running... but when you ask him, he says, "No, no, it's just a cold, it's okay." Or have you ever seen someone sitting next to you on a flight sneakily take a pill? We've all had experiences like this. Sometimes, we've done something like this, either knowingly or unknowingly. That means hiding a physical ailment or a contagious disease from others.
In fact, a recent study found that three out of four people (that's about 75%) have at some point concealed an infectious disease. Surprisingly, six out of ten healthcare workers also admitted to concealing an illness in this way.
So, why do people do this? What are the possible effects of this? How can we protect ourselves and our loved ones from this situation? Let's talk about this in a little more depth today.
Why do people hide their illness?
There is not one reason for this, but many. Some of them we can understand, while others may seem a bit selfish. These are some of the main reasons that studies have found.
| The reason for hiding the illness | Simply put... |
|---|
| Reluctance to skip social events | "Oh, it's a friend's wedding today, I can't miss it because of this little flu." Or the reluctance to cancel things like a trip or a date that I've planned for a long time. |
| Stress related to work or education | Not being able to take time off because of an important meeting at the office, a project deadline, or a university exam. The fear that "if I don't go to this, there will be a big problem." |
| Reluctance to bother others | Hiding the illness, thinking, "If I say I'm sick, my family and friends will be scared and it will cause them trouble too." |
| Seeing it as shame or weakness | Some people see being sick as a weakness, as being healthier than others. They hide their illness for fear that others will think they are "always sick." |
| To avoid screening | Lying about symptoms when asked about them at work or before entering universities, as was the case during the COVID-19 pandemic. In one study, 41% of university students tried to hide an illness in this way. |
There are two ways to think when you are healthy and two ways to think when you are sick!
The biggest problem here is this. It's not how we think when we're healthy and alert, but how we think when we're sick. Think about it this way. You're in good health today. If someone asked you, "What would you do if you got a really contagious fever?" you'd say, "Of course I'd stay home, I wouldn't infect anyone." That's the right thing to do, and that's how we all think.
But... when you actually have a fever and your body hurts, your mind can change. Here are some things that come to mind:
- "This isn't such a big deal..."
- "If you don't do that, everything will be in chaos..."
- "I'll be careful when I go back..."
Studies show that
when people are sick, they don't accurately assess how contagious they are and how severe the illness they could cause to someone else . At that point, our minds are focused on fulfilling our own immediate goals. Thinking about the health risks to others takes a back seat.
Impact on public health
This behavior can have a big impact on society in general. Imagine, if one person were to travel on a plane, bus, or office with a contagious disease, how many people could be infected with that disease? If there is an elderly person, a pregnant woman, a small child, or someone with other medical conditions (for example, diabetes or heart disease), even this 'little
cold ' could be life-threatening for them.
So what do we do? How do we protect ourselves?
This is a two-sided story. One is to protect ourselves from others. The other is to behave responsibly if we get sick.
1. Protection from others
- Don't just believe words: If you see someone looking sick (coughing, sneezing, red eyes), but they say "I'm fine," don't go 100% believing it.
- Keep your distance: Keep as little distance from someone like that as possible.
- Wash your hands: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water regularly, especially after visiting public places.
- Wear a mask: It is much safer to wear a mask when you are in a crowded place, or if someone around you seems sick.
2. Behave responsibly when you are sick
This is the most important thing. We call this the 'golden rule'.
If you don't want others to get sick, don't let others get sick.
- Stay home: If you are feeling unwell or have symptoms of a contagious illness (fever, cough, shortness of breath , body aches ), please stay home. The health of others is more important than your work or your social plans.
- See a doctor: If you're not sure what you have, don't guess, see your doctor for advice. That way, you'll know exactly how long you need to rest and stay away from other people.
- Inform others: If you have a contagious illness, it is your responsibility to tell those you have been in contact with recently so they can be on the lookout for symptoms as well.
If we all think a little and make a little sacrifice, we can go a long way in controlling the spread of diseases like this.
Take-Home Message
- Many people (perhaps including us) are tempted to hide the fact that they have a contagious disease from others for social, work, or personal reasons.
- We may be less concerned about the risks to others when we are sick than when we are healthy, which makes us more likely to make poor decisions.
- To protect yourself from others, be careful if someone seems sick, even if they say they are "fine." Take precautions like maintaining distance and washing your hands .
- If you feel sick, please behave responsibly. By staying home and following the advice of your doctor, you are protecting others, especially those at risk.
Infectious diseases, disease prevention, social responsibility, public health, infections, preventive health, staying healthy
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