Sneezing? Have a runny nose? Scratchy throat? Headache?
If you are one of the unlucky students who came back to Penn State after the winter vacation suffering from a "common" cold, you may be asking yourself what's so "common" about feeling so lousy!
You may also wonder whether over-the-counter medicine will help cure your cold or if you need to see a medical professional.
University Health Services (UHS) can help you sort out your questions about these annoying cold symptoms.
You have two options.
One is to complete a self-assessment checklist on the UHS Web site. The other is to call the UHS Telephone Advice Nurse. Either way, UHS can help you decide what level of care you need.
Causes of the common cold
Several different viruses that infect the upper respiratory tract, nose, throat and larynx can cause the common cold.
Antibiotics are not effective in treating the common cold, because colds are caused by a virus. (Antibiotics work on bacterial infections, not viral infections.)
However, the good news is that colds usually resolve themselves in one to two weeks whether they are treated or not.
How you "catch" colds
Sharing drinks, shaking hands, kissing, hand-to-hand contact and inhaling aerosol droplets from an infected person may infect you. Also, poor nutrition, lack of rest and excessive alcohol use may put you at greater risk.
How to avoid "catching" colds
The most important way for you to avoid a cold is to stay healthy by having a good diet, washing your hands frequently, exercising and getting plenty of rest.
These simple rules can be a real challenge for everyone, especially college students. But if you want to avoid a cold this winter, you really need to take good care of yourself!
Self-assessment checklist
The self-assessment checklist that is available on the UHS Web site includes 19 questions about your symptoms.
Here is a brief sampling of the types of questions you will find on the checklist:
Have you had a fever of more than 100.5 for three days?
Has a sore throat lasted for more than seven days?
Are there white patches on your throat?
Have your glands been swollen for more than three days?
Is your neck moderately or severely tender?
Has your nasal mucous been colored for more than five days?
Have you had breathing difficulties? Are you wheezing?
Do you have moderate or severe ear pain?
Do you have a red rash over your body?
If you answered "yes" to any of the above sample questions, you should review the complete checklist on the Web site at www.sa.psu.edu/uhs/assesscold.htm.
Depending on your answers, you may be advised to contact your health care provider.
Telephone advice nurse
Your second option is calling the UHS Advice Nurse at 814-863-4463.
Experienced registered nurses will listen to your concerns and then ask pertinent questions about your symptoms.
Based on the severity of your illness, they will either give you some self-care recommendations or advise you to make an appointment with a UHS clinician.
