By Mary Fan
Arizona Daily Wildcat
December 2, 1997

Campus Health official warns of wintertime illnesses

Students returning from Thanksgiving break may have brought back more than leftovers.

The annual flu season is upon us and Campus Health is expecting more sick students on campus, said Lisette LeCorgne, a Campus Health Center nurse practitioner.

"As people travel, the infection travels with them," LeCorgne explained.

Influenza viruses, which have moved up from South America, bring symptoms including persistent fever, sweats and chills, cough, sore throat and poor appetite among others, LeCorgne said.

Flu sufferers tend to experience at least three of the different symptoms, she added.

LeCorgne suggested students get shots to guard against the flu and Campus Health is currently offering the $6 injection on a walk-in basis, she said.

Students with Health Partners insurance get a dollar discount.

Business freshman Jon Fein got a shot.

"I don't like shots and it was a little painful, but if it keeps me from getting sick it's all good," he said.

Campus Health has yet to see a case of the flu, LeCorgne said, but has been busy with the fall's usual increase in bronchitis, upper respiratory and sinus infections.

However, it is not the cooler temperature that causes these illnesses, she added.

"It isn't the specific temperature but the drying effect the cold has on tissue - the analogy would be if you had really dry skin which cracks easier, allowing bacteria to get in," LeCorgne explained.

Besides the weather, stress can make students more susceptible to respiratory infection and the flu itself, LeCorgne said. More students get sick as the semester closes and finals roll around, she said.

LeCorgne recommended students practice basic good nutrition - including six to eight glasses of water a day along with a balanced diet - to ward off sickness.

"Rest as much as you can," she added. "It's unrealistic to expect someone to get eight hours of sleep every day but if you're under a lot of stress, the closer you get to six to eight hours of rest a day, the better your chances of fighting off infection."

Getting sick intensifies school-related anxieties, according to women's studies junior Shren Ahmed.

"It's really hard being sick when you're a student because you have so many things going on with classes and work," she said. "It makes you fall behind."

Do You Have the Flu?

Are you experiencing three or more of the symptoms below?

• -Fever, (typically up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit)
• -Sweats and chills
• -Aches, especially in back, extremities, or head
• -Painful cough
• -Runny nose, nausea, diarrhea or vomiting
• -Intensely sensitive skin
• -Feeling of faintness, weakness
• -Poor appetite, change in or loss of taste
• OR is your fever or cold persisting for seven to 10 days without improvement?

If so, consult your health care provider.

Source: Campus Health Center