A new semester means more than 40,000 students from all over the country and the world converging on campus -- and with them comes an untold number of viruses just waiting to find a susceptible host. Beware!

If you were not eligible for a flu shot in the fall according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines (most Penn State students were not), what can you do to prevent getting the flu? Or if you get the flu, what can you do to lessen the symptoms?

The term "flu" refers to illnesses caused by influenza viruses. Influenza types A and B cause the most severe illnesses.

The most frequent symptoms are sudden onset of high fever, headache, body aches, dry cough and extreme fatigue. Sore throat and nasal congestion can also occur but are less common. The most severe symptoms of the flu usually last only about four days, but it can take up to two to four weeks for some people to fully recover from the fatigue and weakness.

The flu virus is very contagious. It is spread when someone with the flu speaks, coughs or sneezes, and someone else inhales the airborne virus. One of the trickiest aspects of the flu is that people can be contagious a day before they have any symptoms or know they are sick. They can continue to spread the virus for another three to seven days after symptoms start.

Is the flu serious? It can be, especially to people who are at high risk for complications. That is why the CDC limited the flu vaccine to people in certain age groups and with chronic illnesses that make them more vulnerable to serious complications. An average of 36,000 people per year in the United States die from influenza, and about 114,000 per year have to be hospitalized because of it. Complications include bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, sinus infections, ear infections and a worsening of chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart failure.

Here are some recommendations for protecting yourself from getting the flu:

-- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

-- Wash your hands frequently, especially after shaking hands with people, and carry a container of waterless anti-bacterial soap with you.

-- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

-- Drink lots of liquids and eat nutritiously.

-- Get plenty of sleep.

If you do get sick, here are some things you can do to avoid spreading it to other people:

-- Keep your distance from other people to protect them from catching your illness.

-- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

There are no antibiotics you can take for the flu. Antibiotics cure bacterial infections but do nothing for viral infections like the flu.

However, there are antiviral treatments for the flu. In order to be effective, they must be started within two days of the onset of symptoms. These medications aren't exactly a cure, but if taken early they can shorten the duration of the illness by about one day, while also reducing the severity of the symptoms and frequency of complications. It may not sound like much, but if you have the flu, even one hour less of those high fevers, body aches and wracking cough is a blessing!

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved four medications for the treatment of the flu: Amantadine (Symmetrel) and Rimantidine (Flumadine) are both effective against Influenza A, and Zanamivir (Relenza) and Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) -- both much more expensive -- are effective against Influenza A and B.

Which medication should be prescribed for you? It depends on the type of influenza in the community, the medication's side effects, the cost and, ultimately, the benefit to you.

If you think you have the flu, see a clinician at University Health Services for an evaluation, and we can discuss which medication might be the best choice for you. Call 863-0774 for an appointment.