Sure it stinks having the flu, but it’s nothing serious, right? Wrong. WMUR reported on January 10 Rebecca Hendrik’s 5 year-old daughter Scarlet was sent home from preschool with the flu, she did what any parent would do and supply medicine with a movie. It seemed that her Scarlet was starting to move on from this flu– until Rebecca noticed something concerning. Scarlet had fallen asleep and began to make strange breathing noises; when she awoke she looked to her mother with a blank expression. It was then Rebecca knew her daughter’s flu was serious and a doctor was now necessary. Going into the hospital, Rebecca assumed she would be walking out with new medicine for her daughter. She didn’t, however, think she would be walking out without her daughter. Scarlet died from the cause of H3N2 flu.

Being on campus leaves us exposed to the many illnesses spreading around our campus–the flu being one of them. There are only 4 confirmed cases of the flu on campus, said Mary Masson, director of the Bergeron Wellness Center . While the number is low, she said she expects more cases to crop up  with everyone now back from break. The flu can wipe a student out for 1 to 2 weeks. Masson said students should take it seriously, and offers tips on how to stay healthy this winter season:

-The flu is spread by respiratory droplets, so it is crucial that when you cough or sneeze that you do so into your arm and not onto someone else

-Keep a fever down with ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol), drink plenty of fluids, and get rest/sleep.  Medications that are prescribed, such as Tamiflu, have to be started within 2-3 days of the symptoms and the medication only decreases the duration of the flu by 12 hours! “If you have the flu, call or come to the Bergeron Wellness Center and we can give you a ‘flu kit’ to help with symptoms,” Masson said.

-It is NOT too late to get a flu shot. Go to a local pharmacy such as the CVS on Church street or Rite Aid on main street

IS IT THE FLU OR A COLD?

The easiest way to tell the difference between a cold and the flu is that colds tend to come on slower. The flu is a virus and once it comes you can’t stop it.

The classic symptoms include:

 

• high fever

• body aches

• chills/sweats

• a dry cough.