Student health services sees many cases of common cold |
| Posted by Administrator on Feb 11 2009 at 2:59 PM |
Photo by Stacy Laue
Cindy Shultz, associate director of health care, and Janet Anderson, R.N. and B.S.M., review information about the progressing flu and cold season. Both are nurses at Student Health Services at UNK.
By Stacy Laue
Antelope Staff
The cold and flu season hits campuses around the nation about this time every year, but so far UNK Student Health has seen only cases of the common cold and are offering advice about avoiding the flu.
Associate Director of Health Care Cindy Shultz said UNK students have avoided the bug so far this season. "We have not had a single case of influenza yet this year," Shultz said.
"Influenza's going to come up though. We have not seen the peak of the virus yet," Shultz said.
There are many ways to lower the risk of catching influenza or the common cold.
"Get a flu shot," Shultz said. "Otherwise, surface-cleaning wherever you live kills many types of bacteria, and washing your hands helps too."
"One thing I don't think some people realize is that the flu virus can actually kill people," Shultz said.
According to the Center for Disease Control Web site, in 2008 more than 10 percent of all deaths in the nation were due to influenza. Since Sept. 28, 2008, only three deaths have been reported due to influenza.
"We were clobbered with cases last year. That vaccine wasn't effective," Shultz said.
Influenza, more commonly known as the flu, and the common cold are two illnesses many students may have heard about and suffered from before. Student Health Services is ready and willing to help with either as both illnesses have separate symptoms and risks.
In the past, influenza has hit many states hard by this time of the year. According to the CDC's Web site, 16.2 percent of all patients tested for the flu in the nation, tested positive for influenza, and the influenza activity is continuing to increase.
According to the CDC, the flu season typically peaks in January, February and March.
Shultz described many symptoms of influenza. Chills, high fever, head ache, dry cough, sore throat and fatigue are all typical flu symptoms.
"If students get the flu, they will not feel like going to class. The best thing they can do is go to a doctor and get rest," Shultz said.
Influenza is a virus that is spread through airborne germs, but can also be picked up by touching an infected surface. Adults and children can be contagious for more than seven days after exposure.
"The best thing I can recommend to students is to get vaccinated," Shultz said.
While an influenza outbreak on campus has yet to take place, another common illness is currently making its way through the student body.
"In this past week alone, one third of the patients at Student Health Services have had cold-like symptoms," Shultz said.
The common cold is also a viral respiratory infection, but much less severe than influenza. Shultz said some of the most common cold symptoms are coughing, runny nose, headaches and sore throats.
The common cold can last for any length of time, but treatment will help speed the process, Shultz said.
"Talk to a health care provider or a pharmacist if you are having trouble finding the right medication," she said.
Student Health Services, located in the Student Affairs building, is open from 8 to 5 p.m. and has nurses available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Friday. On Wednesday, appointments or walk-ins start at 9 a.m., and on Thursdays, Student Health is open until 6:30 p.m.
There are three nurses who routinely come to UNK, as well as three nurse practitioners, and other physicians from Kearney Clinic who come to Student Health three times a week.
"There is always a nurse on staff," Shultz said.
