Flu Information

Influenza

Symptoms of flu or influenza-like illness are:

• Fever 100° or higher
• Severe cough
• Sore throat
• Muscle aches (myalgias)
• Congestion or runny nose
• Headache, chills, fatigue
• 25% have nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

Treatment

Flu is a virus, therefore antibiotics are not prescribed.

Your health care provider may prescribe an antiviral medication if you meet certain criteria (in a health care college with direct patient contact, chronic health conditions, etc.)

Your health care provider may also suggest the following OTC medications which should make you feel better. These medications include:

• Decongestants: Sudafed products, Mucinex, Mucinex DM
• Fever reducers: Tylenol / Ibuprofen
• Cough medication such as Delsym, Triaminic / Robitussin DM, Mucinex DM, Nyquil

To avoid spreading the illness to others:

Consider going home to recover if you have been diagnosed with the flu.

• Isolate yourself in your home.
• If you have to leave your home, wear a mask.
• Cover your cough.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.
• Stay home from work or school until fever is less than 100° for 24 hours with no fever medication.

Email your professors that you have been instructed to be in isolation because of the flu. Take your proof of appointment to them once you are well enough to return to class. In cases of pandemic flu such as H1N1, UHS will work with the Provost to inform faculty of potentially high instances of absenteeism. It is still the student's responsibility to discuss any absence with their instructor.

Flu complications; warning signs:

The most severe flu symptoms are generally the first 3-5 days, then you should improve. Return to see your health care provider if you experience any of the following:

• Worsening symptoms after you initially improve
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness or confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

Signs of a bacterial infection including:

• severe earache
• sinus pain despite decongestants
• persistent productive cough longer than 2 weeks
• fever after day 5

You can call our phone information nurse for further guidance at 859-323-INFO.