With this flu season tak ing its toll on young adults, Elizabeth Miller, the interim medical director of Student Health Services, provides basic information students should be aware of.
Miller said severe illness and deaths due to the flu oc cur regularly each year.
“One difference seen this year is that the deaths have occurred mainly in children and younger adults as op posed to the elderly,” Miller said.
Mi l ler explained that people who live in close-knit communities such as college campuses are at a greater risk of spreading the virus faster.
“Students live in close contact with one another as well as attend class together,” Miller said. “These environ ments have significant ex posure to viruses from the carriers who visit the spaces.”
Fortunately, there are many ways to prevent catching and spreading the influenza virus.
According to Miller, some simple, yet effective precau tionary measures to prevent the f lu are washing hands often with soap and water, avoid touching eyes, mouth and nose, getting significant and frequent rest, eating healthy, staying hydrated and being active.
She also stressed the impor tance of getting the influenza vaccination annually as a means of prevention.
“Flu vaccinations are the best prevention for avoid ing the f lu. Vaccinations are available on campus at the Student Health Services Pharmacy, Student Health Services Clinic, as well as at an upcoming f lu clinics on Jan. 30 from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. at the Student Health Center,” Miller said. “You may also visit a pharmacy or medical provider in the com munity.”
Miller said an infected per son should not attend class until they have been fever-free for 24 hours without any fever-reducing medication. According to Miller, that person should ask a friend to pick up a meal for them in the dining hall instead going on their own.
An infected student might also want to consider wearing a mask during class to help prevent transmitting the virus, according to Miller. Miller said decongestants, expectorants, cough drops, saline nose drops, honey, soup and hydration will all help with a person’s recovery.
“Make an appointment at Student Health Services if your symptoms are severe or if you have asthma or other chronic condit ions that would put you at risk for a severe illness from the flu,” Miller said. “Your medi cal provider can determine if you are a good candidate for the antiviral medication, Tamiflu.”
Keeping supplies such as Tylenol, Advil, a thermom eter and hand sanitizer is a good precaution to follow. Students should always seek medical help as soon as pos sible if the symptoms are severe.
It is not only important for people to know methods of preventing and getting rid of the flu, but also some common myths that are as sociated with it, according to Miller.
“The most common myths we encounter center around the flu vaccine itself,” Miller said. “There is a common myth that the f lu vaccine will cause the flu. The influ enza vaccine does not cause the flu.”
