Sneezing? Have a runny nose? Scratchy throat? Headache?

If you are one of the unlucky students who came back to Penn State after the semester break suffering from a common cold, you might be asking 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: completing a self-assessment checklist on the UHS Web site or calling the UHS telephone advice nurse. Either way, UHS can help you decide what level of care you need.

The cold facts

Causes of the common cold

There are more than 200 different viruses that infect the upper respiratory tract, nose, throat and larynx that 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 treated or not.

How you 'catch' colds

You "catch" a cold when a virus from an infected person comes in contact with your nose, eyes or mouth. Spreading of the virus can occur by sharing drinks, kissing, hand-to-hand contact and then touching your eye or mouth, or inhaling aerosol droplets from an infected person. Also, poor nutrition, lack of rest and excessive alcohol use may put you at greater risk by lowering your resistance to infection.

How to avoid 'catching' colds

The most important way for you to avoid a cold is to maintain a strong immune system, and to wash your hands frequently. Infection can be spread if your hands are contaminated and you touch your eyes, nose or mouth.

Maintaining a good diet, exercising and getting plenty of rest will enhance your resistance to infection. 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 on the UHS Web site includes nineteen questions about your symptoms.

It will help you sort out what's going on with your respiratory system and whether or not you need to talk with a health care professional. 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, we suggest that you review the complete checklist on the UHS Web site at http://www.sa.psu.edu/uhs/healthinformation/selfassess/cold.cfm.

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 863-4463. Registered nurses will listen to your concerns and 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.