Student Health Services

The common cold is an illness that affects the respiratory system and can be caused by a variety of viruses.

How it spreads

• There are various viruses that can cause a common cold. Most often these viruses are spread by droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze, hand to hand contact with someone infected, touching your eyes, nose, or mouth after contact with the virus and sharing objects with the virus on them such as phones or dishes.

Symptoms

• Symptoms often begin 1-3 days after exposure
• Sneezing and runny or stuffy nose
• Cough and/or sore throat
• Mild headache
• Low grade fever
• Overall feeling generally unwell

What to do if you have the common cold

• Prioritize rest
• Encourage fluid repletion through water and electrolyte beverages to maintain hydration
• Utilize over the counter medications for symptoms such as pain and fever

When to schedule appointment

• Inability to manage symptoms at home
• If symptoms do not improve
• Shortness of breath or wheezing

When to seek urgent care

• Difficulty breathing
• Severe dehydration

COVID is a contagious disease that can mimic the presentation of a cold, the flu, or pneumonia.

How it spreads

• COVID spreads from the droplets of an infected person’s cough or sneeze

Symptoms

• Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and often appear 2 to 14 days after exposure
• Fever or chills
• Cough and/or sore throat
• Shortness of breath
• Congestion or runny nose
• Loss of taste or smell
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

What to do if you have COVID

• Manage symptoms with over the counter medications such as Tylenol or ibuprofen
• Frequent fluid repletion with water and electrolyte beverages to maintain adequate hydration
• When in contact with others where a well fitted mask, social distance as able, and practice good hand hygiene habits

When to schedule appointment

• Worsening symptoms
• Inability to manage symptoms at home

When to seek urgent care

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pressure or pain in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to stay awake or wake
• Pale, grey, or blue skin tone, lips, or nail beds

Symptoms

• Loose, watery stools
• Belly cramps or pain
• Bloating or distention
• Nausea or vomiting

What to do if you are experiencing diarrhea

• Replace lost fluids with water, electrolytes, and broth
• Slowly reintroduce solid foods as tolerated, often starting with bland options like crackers or toast

When to schedule appointment

• Worsening abdominal pain or distention
• Symptoms persisting beyond 24-48 hours

When to seek urgent care

• Rapidly worsening symptoms
• Severe dehydration
• Bloody or black stools

Influenza, which is commonly referred to as the Flu, is a virus that affects part of the respiratory system such as lungs, nose, and throat.

How it spreads

• Flu is a droplet illness, meaning that it spreads by droplets formed when someone infected coughs, sneezes, or talks

Symptoms

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills
• Cough and/or sore throat
• runny/stuffy nose
• Body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea

What to do if you have the Flu

• Fluid repletion with water and electrolyte beverages to maintain hydration
• Over the counter medications such as Tylenol or ibuprofen to manage symptoms
• Rest and taking a break from physical activity
• When in contact with others wear a well fitted mask, social distance as able, and practice good hand hygiene

When to schedule appointment

• Unable to manage symptoms at home
• Worsening symptoms

When to seek urgent care

• Rapidly worsening symptoms
• Difficulty breathing

Measles is a highly contagious virus that can cause serious health complications.

How it spreads

• Measles is spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing, however it can live for up to 2 hours in airspace

Symptoms

• Often appear 7-14 days after exposure to the virus
• High fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes
• 2-3 days after initial symptoms appear white spots may appear inside the mouth
• 3-5 days after initial symptoms appear the measles rash will form. This typically begins as flat red spots on the face (usually near the hairline) and spreads down the rest of the body

What to do if you believe you have measles

• Call a medical provider right away if you believe you may have measles
• Avoid contact with others that are not already infected with measles

When to seek urgent care

• Difficulty or pain with breathing
• Severe dehydration
• Fever or headache that will not stop even if the use of over the counter medications
• Confusion, decreased alertness, or severe weakness

Infectious Mononucleosis, which is often referred to as Mono, is common among college students and is typically caused by the Epstein Barr Virus.

How it spreads

• Most commonly spread through bodily fluids, especially saliva by kissing others or sharing food/drinks with those infected with mono

Symptoms

• Typically appear 4 to 6 weeks after you get infected.
• Extreme fatigue
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Headaches
• Body aches
• Rash
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck and armpits
• In severe cases swollen liver, spleen, or both.

What to do if you have mono

• Drinking fluids, such as water or electrolyte drinks, to maintain hydration
• Plenty of rest
• Over the counter medications such as Tylenol for pain or fever
• Avoid contact sports until you recover (at least 4 weeks)

When to schedule appointment

• Unable to manage your symptoms at home
• Need guidance on returning to or increasing activity levels
• Have worsening symptoms or prolonged fatigue

When to seek urgent care

• Difficulty with swallowing or breathing
• Rapidly worsening symptoms
• Severe pain under the left rib cage

Symptoms

• Bloating or distention
• Belly cramps or pain
• Diarrhea

Treatment/what to do

• Replace lost fluids with water, electrolytes, and broth
• Slowly reintroduce solid foods as tolerated, often starting with bland options like crackers or toast

When to schedule appt

• You have experienced bouts of nausea/vomiting for longer than one month
• You’ve experienced unexplained weight loss with the nausea and vomiting
• Nausea and vomiting lasts more than 2 days

When to seek urgent care

• If it is accompanied by severe headache, especially if you have never experienced a headache like this before
• Severe dehydration
• Your vomit contains blood or resembles coffee grounds

Seasonal allergies can be brought on by a variety of triggers, but common triggers include pollen, mold, grass, smoke, and pine trees/wreaths.

Symptoms

• Sneezing
• Watery and/or itchy eyes
• Runny or stuffed nose
• Post nasal drip
• Headache
• Shortness of breath
• Ear congestion

What to do if you have seasonal allergies

• Monitor pollen and mold counts
• Keep windows and doors shut in your home and cars during allergy season
• Take a shower, wash your hair, and change your clothes after spending time outdoors
• Utilize over the counter allergy medications as needed to manage symptoms

When to schedule appointment

• Unable to manage symptoms at home

When to seek urgent care

• Difficulty breathing or swallowing

Strep throat is a bacterial infection that leads to a sore or scratchy throat

How it spreads

• Strep spread through infected droplets from another person when they cough, sneeze, or shares food/drinks. Additionally strep can be picked up by touching a surface with the droplets and immediately touching your eyes, mouth, or nose transferring the bacteria.

Symptoms

• rapid onset of throat pain
• painful swallowing
• red/swollen tonsils occasionally presenting with white patches
• tiny red spots at the back of the roof of the mouth
• fever
• headache
• swollen lymph nodes in neck
• body aches

What to do if you believe you have strep throat

• Reach out to a health care provider to be evaluated for strep throat
• Get plenty of rest
• Maintain adequate hydration
• Eat soothing foods
• Use of over the counter medications for pain and discomfort

When to schedule appointment

• If you need to be tested for strep throat
• If you are unable to manage symptoms at home or symptoms worsen

When to seek urgent care

• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Rapid worsening of symptoms

Tuberculosis (TB) is an illness that primarily affects the lungs and is most commonly caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

How it spreads

• TB is spread through the air to another person when someone with active TB coughs, speaks, or sings

Symptoms

• Not everyone with TB will have symptoms, which is called inactive TB
• Cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer
• Chest pain
• Coughing up blood or sputum
• weakness/fatigue
• Weight loss and loss of appetite
• Chills or night sweats
• Fever

What to do if you have TB

• Contact a healthcare provider right away if you suspect you have TB or if you tested positive for TB
• Avoid contact with others that do not have TB