Which symptom is listed as requiring you to stay home until you are symptom-free for 24 hours without the use of medicine?

• A. Diarrhea
• B. Dizziness
• C. Sneezing
• D. Slight fatigue

Answer: (A)

Staying home when mov­ing conditions could spread illness is a core safety rule in food service. The requirement to stay home until you’re symptom‑free for 24 hours without medicine is there to prevent customers and coworkers from catching something contagious through food, utensils, or surfaces you touch.

Diarrhea fits this rule best because it often signals an active GI infection that can shed pathogens in stool and contaminate hands, equipment, and food. Even if you otherwise feel fine, this kind of symptom creates a clear risk of spreading illness in a kitchen, so you should not return until the diarrhea has stopped and you’ve been symptom‑free for a full 24 hours without using medicine to suppress symptoms.

Dizziness, sneezing, and slight fatigue can have noninfectious causes or may not indicate a contagious GI illness in this context, so they don’t meet the specific criterion of requiring a 24‑hour symptom‑free period without medication to return to work. If you ever have fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, those typically require staying home until cleared.