INFECTIOUS DISEASE INFORMATION
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Update on SARS (Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome)
The Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) have declared the SARS epidemic “contained”. For
information on the history of the epidemic, the methods used to contain
it, and the case definition, please view http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/index.htm.
The CDC has also lifted all travel advisories
and travel alerts. (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/sars/travel.htm).
We will continue to monitor the situation and
promptly notify the community if new outbreaks of this or other
potentially relevant infectious diseases occur.
Davis Smith MD
Medical Director
Davison House Health Center
Wesleyan University
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Allergy vs. Cold vs. Flu - (Cold
and Flu Information Links)
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 Meningitis
Information Links
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Tip: Drink Your Soup!
Although it's never been proven, there are many loyal
believers in the power of soup. It is thought that the salt can
help reduce inflammation in the throat while the warmth can increase
circulation to your throat to promote healing. |
Allergies
Allergy Symptoms:
Nasal congestion, clear drainage from nose, sneezing,
itchy nose, itchy eyes, post-nasal drip frequently causing a cough
and
irritated throat.
Allergy (seasonal) facts:
suspect an allergy if the above symptoms last
longer than 2 weeks. Allergy symptoms develop from exposure to
specific
allergens and usually appear around the same time each year,
spring, summer
or fall. Other types of allergens, like molds and pet dander,
produce
similar symptoms and come and go with exposure.
Transmission: none
Treatment:
Avoid the allergen(s) as much as possible. Treat symptoms with
over the counter antihistamines like Benadryl. If not effective
see a
health care professional.
Common Cold
Symptoms:
A cold develops gradually. Initial symptoms of runny
nose, sneezing, and chills are followed by coughing, headache,
sore throat, loss of appetite, and nasal discharge. If fever
is present, it will be low-grade (less than 101 degrees).
Cold Facts:
The common cold is caused by more than 200 different viruses.
There are currently no antibiotics that are effective against
colds. Medications can help relieve symptoms, but there is
no cure.
Transmission:
The most common ways a cold is spread are through hand-to-hand
contact with someone who has a cold or by touching a hard surface
or object that a person with a cold has recently touched. A
cold can also be transmitted through airborne particles through
coughing or sneezing, but it isn't very likely, unless you have
prolonged contact with someone with a cold.
Prevention:
To decrease your chances of exposure, wash hands frequently and
try to stay away from anyone with a cold.
Once exposed, you are less likely to develop cold symptoms if
you have a strong immune system. To keep your immune system
in shape, try to keep a regular schedule with eight hours of
sleep, a balanced diet, and exercise. Try to keep stress
levels low, and DON'T SMOKE!
Treatment:
Pick up a Self-Care Cold Pack at the Health Center
Non-pharmaceutical/ Alternative Therapies for Colds: 
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1. |
Get plenty of rest and avoid
fatigue to help your body fight off the virus. |
2.
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Fluids - Drink plenty of fluids
(8-12 glasses a day). Fluids help thin secretions and keep
membranes moist and more resistant to infection. Avoid
beverages with caffeine as caffeine can dehydrate you. |
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3. |
Inhaling steam can help relieve
congestion and cough. |
4.
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Salt-water gargles can help
relieve inflammation and pain of a sore throat. (Mix ½
teaspoon table salt in 8 ounces of warm water and gargle every
two to three hours.) |
5.
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Vitamin C- There are many
conflicting theories as to the effectiveness of vitamin C in
cold prevention and treatment. The severity of a
cold may be limited by regular low doses (250mg per day) of
vitamin C before you get a cold. Higher doses may have
adverse consequences and are not recommended. |
6.
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Zinc- Zinc gluconate lozenges
have gotten a lot of publicity recently as a weapon against
colds. The lozenges should be started as soon as the first
tickle of a sore throat is felt to be effective. |
7.
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Garlic is thought to have some
anti-viral effects. Fresh is more effective than the
tablets, but it has more unpleasant side effects (mainly bad
breath and stomach upset). Other "warm" spices
such as ginger and cayenne peppers can help loosen
congestion and soothe minor sore throat pain. |
8.
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The herbs echinacea and golden
seal are also thought to help. They work best if started
quickly and simultaneously and should not be taken for longer
than two weeks. |
When to see a health care provider:
You should come to the Health Center if any of the following
apply:
- Symptoms last longer than 10 days.
- You have a severe sore throat, earache, or
headache not relieved by Tylenol or ibuprofen.
- You have a history of tuberculosis, rheumatic
fever, kidney disease, or heart disease.
- You have severe chest pain or shortness of
breath.
- You are coughing up thick, green or bloody
sputum.
- You have swollen glands or hard sore lumps on
the sides or back of your neck.
Flu / Influenza
Symptoms:
The flu most often hits abruptly, with a sudden high fever,
dry cough, and headache. Other symptoms may include muscle
aches, weakness, a sore throat, runny nose, and red, watery
eyes that are sensitive to light.
Flu Facts:
Like a cold, the flu is a viral infection and there is no
cure. It is spread through person-to-person
contact and through sneezing and coughing. The flu
can make people of any age ill. Most people are sick for only
a few days, but some have a more serious illness that may
require hospitalization.
Once a person gets the flu, not much can be done except to
alleviate the symptoms. The best treatment is prevention
by immunization.
Immunization:
Immunization is important for people with increased risk of
complications and for those most likely to spread it. The
vaccine is recommended for college students, especially those
who live in dorms. They run a higher risk of contracting
the flu because of close living quarters. In addition,
many college students experience a drastic change in eating
and sleeping habits when school first starts which may lead to
a weakened immune system.
People who need the vaccine should get it every year.
The vaccine starts to protect you after a week or two and
protection may last up to one year. In the United
States, the CDC recommends getting the vaccine in October or
mid-November. Because viruses change so often, it is
possible to get the flu even if you have received the vaccine.
However, people who do get the flu after being vaccinated
usually have a milder case than those who did not get the
vaccine. The flu vaccine will not cause the flu.
Side Effects:
The most common side effects are soreness at injection
site, fever, weakness, muscle aches, and allergic reactions.
You should not receive the vaccine if you have an allergy to
eggs. Check with your doctor or nurse at Student Health
before receiving the vaccine if you have had previous
reactions to vaccines or if you have any chronic health
problems. You also should not be vaccinated during an
illness involving fever.
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