Students getting sick in third week of classes
It’s the beginning of cold season and all over campus, students are feeling the effects.
Upper respiratory virus, also known as the common cold, is highly contagious and generally lasts seven to 10 days, although symptoms are not present for the entire run of the virus.
According to a Web site sponsored by the University of Iowa’s Student Health Services, it is not uncommon for college students to contract six to eight colds per year – a much higher average than the general adult.
There are several reasons for students’ susceptibility including lack of sleep and the sudden concentration of people in close proximity.
Generally, cold symptoms can be treated by over the counter medications and do not require additional medical attention, said Jim Davis, director and physician at the Student Health and Wellness Center.
However, Davis said, if body temperature reaches 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit, or higher, or if symptoms last more than three days, students should make an appointment.
The University of Utah’s Health Center’s Web site reports the beginning of cold season start in late August and early September, with the majority of cases occurring between then and March or April.
Davis said although many students are sick at the beginning of the school year, it is not the Health Center’s busiest time. Flu season hits campus hard around January and February, Davis said, and is when he sees the largest number of students coming in for treatment.
Even though the cold is not a serious disease, the American College Health Association warns students to be careful. According to the ACHA, the common cold is the second biggest impediment to academic performance.
The beginning of classes facilitates the spread of the virus due to the increased number of students coming in close contact for academic and recreation purposes.
Because the cold is viral and not caused by bacterial infection, there is no cure or anti-biotic. However, measures can be taken to prevent its spread.
Most germs circulate on people’s hands and can transmit to other individuals by touching a doorknob or shaking hands. Simple habits are often enough to prevent getting sick – washing your hands constantly, for example, with soap and hot water or hand sanitizers, Davis said.
Having eight hours of sleep is also a way to prevent sickness, he said. Many students, especially freshmen, have sudden changes in their sleeping schedule, making their bodies tired and more susceptible to viruses.
Students from out of state are also more vulnerable to getting colds because they are not used to Utah’s dry weather, Davis said. The small amounts of moisture in the air help to facilitate the spread of germs. Therefore, students should drink at least eight glasses of water per day, he said.
Those students who do catch colds this season have a variety of options when treating their symptoms. The U of U’s Web site recommends rest, increased fluid intake, over-the-counter decongestants, antihistamines and pain relievers, gargling salt water and warm steam treatments.
However, the Web site states, the use of Vitamin C to help cure cold symptoms is a myth. Studies have never found such claims to be valid, and large quantities of Vitamin C over long periods of time can actually be harmful.
Davis said despite the lack of common sense that college students sometimes use eating is not one of the main factors that aggravates cold symptoms.
“It’s a myth that students don’t eat right. And the biggest myth of all is that freshmen students tend to gain 15 pounds during their first year of college,” Davis said.
Students with concerns from aggravated cold symptoms, or any other concerns, can contact the Student Health and Wellness Center at 797-1010 for an appointment.
-anacarolinabessa@hotmail.com
Contributed to by Brooke Nelson.