Instructions for ill students
September 8, 2009
Influenza is a respiratory illness. It is not the same illness that many people refer to as “the stomach flu.” The symptoms of influenza center around the upper and lower respiratory tracts (nose, throat and lungs) and include sudden onset of high fever, chills, headache, body aches, nasal congestion, sore throat, severe cough, decreased appetite, and fatigue. H1N1 flu is somewhat different from the regular flu because a significant number of people with this virus have also experienced vomiting and diarrhea.
Self isolation
Students who are ill with fever and other flulike symptoms should not go to class. Your instructors will ask you to leave class if you are ill. You should stay in your room as much as possible while you are ill to avoid spreading illness to other people. Do not go to class or Chapel or eat in the cafeteria until you are feeling better and have been without fever for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medications). Be careful around your roommates and others that you may come into contact with. Cover your cough/sneezes and wash your hands as much as possible. If it is necessary for you to leave your room and have close contact with other people, it is recommended that you wear a surgical mask. Wearing a mask is not completely effective in preventing the spread of the flu. But it will help decrease the amount of virus that you spread to others around you. NOTE: These masks will be distributed as needed by Community Life Staff in your residence halls. More information will be given to you about this by your RD and RAs in the future.
Treatment of symptoms
The majority of people who develop influenza will not need to go to the doctor or seek treatment in the Wellness Center. It is expected that most people will recover without needing medical attention. The following measures can be taken to treat your symptoms and help you feel better while your infection resolves.
- Bed Rest
- Fluid and Nutrition: Drinking as much fluid as you can will help you feel better and will replace fluids that your body loses through your skin when you have a fever. It will also help to keep your drainage and secretions thin so that they will not be so irritating and will not become congested in your chest. “To-Go” meals are available from the cafeteria as part of your meal-plan. Your roommate or friends can help you obtain these meals from the cafeteria. If you have nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, eat quiet/bland foods and take small sips of liquid throughout the day to avoid dehydration. If you eat or drink too much all at once, it may cause you to vomit or have more problems with diarrhea.
- Medications as needed to control fever, body aches, sore throat and cough. Generic Wal-Mart, Walgreens, or other store brands are as effective and less expensive than name brand meds:
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol or generic). May take up to two 500 mg tablets (total =1,000 mg) every four hours. Not to exceed 4,000 mg per day. Use caution if taking a combination medication such as Nyquil or Theraflu. These products already contain acetaminophen. Do not take at the same time to avoid over dosage.
- Alternate with ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin or generic) as needed to control fever and body. May take two 200 mg at least six hours apart.
- Cough medications and medications that decrease the thickness of your secretions (Robitussin, Mucinex or generics) as directed on package.
When to seek medical care
Although most people recover from influenza without requiring medical care, certain individuals are more at risk of developing complications.
High Risk Individuals. You should seek early treatment from the Wellness Center or see another health care provider if you are pregnant or have a chronic medical condition such as diabetes, cancer, asthma, heart or lung problems, or a weakened immune system. Prescription anti-viral medications may be helpful to prevent the development of complications from the flu. These medications must be started within 48 hours of the onset of illness to be effective.
Severe Illness/Worsening Symptoms. Even if you are healthy and do not have a previous medical condition, you should seek medical care if you develop chest pain or pressure, rapid breathing, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, severe or persistent vomiting or symptoms that improve but return with worsening fever and cough.