Got the flu? How soon can you go back to work or school?

CINCINNATI - If you or your child comes down with the flu, you should stay home from work and school. But when is it safe to go back?

No one wants to be around a sick co-worker or classmate. The best thing you can do for yourself and everyone else is to stay home until you get better.

Doctors say it usually takes about one week to get over the flu.

Did you know you're actually contagious the day before you start to show symptoms? And you can remain contagious for up to one week after that.

So when is it OK to go back to work or school? Doctors say it all depends on when your fever goes down.  

"It's safe to return when you haven't had a fever for 24 hours and you haven't taken any medications to bring down that fever. That's generally when we can say you can go back to work or school. But you may still have a cough," explained Dr. Melissa Denham with Patient First.

In some cases, you may have a cough that lasts for weeks and you could have that run-down feeling for up to a month after getting the flu virus.