With the harsh winter surrounding us, some could say getting the flu is becoming easier. However, that may not be the case.
Barbara Arps Hoffman, interim director of Student Health Services located in the Health Center on campus, said the flu has nothing to do with the weather. The flu is a virus transmitted by coughing and sneezing, and is re-transmitted from your hands to your eyes, ears and nose. She said it is important to cough and sneeze into your sleeve, and to wash your hands frequently to avoid transmission. Though it is just as important to obtain a flu shot, she said.
“It takes two weeks from the time the student obtains the flu shot for the student to be immunized. So if they have already come in contact with the virus before they received the flu shot, they may get the flu before they are fully immunized,” Hoffman said. “That is why we want students to receive the flu shot in the fall before the flu season begins.”
Junior Zackary Bell said he usually gets the flu around both October and March, when the seasons begin to change. However, he said it is inevitable to hear several students coughing and sneezing in all of his classes throughout the year.
“Perhaps if all students received the flu shot in the fall, students wouldn’t be getting sick as often,” Bell said.
In addition to the flu, Hoffman said there can be the presence of other viruses going around and there will always be a few cases of viruses such as pink eye all year. It is important for students to wash their hands frequently as well as avoid putting their hands to their eyes, nose and mouth, she said.
“Not all pink eye is contagious and not all cases need treatment,” Hoffman said. “That is why it is important for students to go to the Student Health Services to determine what is the proper regimen of care that is required in that student’s situation.”
In order to create a healthy environment on-campus, all students are required to have current immunizations including MMR, Tdap, Hepatitis B, and Meningitis, upon being accepted by the University. These illnesses can be serious if students are not immunized and can spread quickly on a college campus, she said.
“I suggest you research the ACHA.org [American College Health Association] website, which reviews this topic, or the Center for Disease Control, www.cdc.gov, for more information,” Hoffman said.
If students have not had a physical in a few years, it is important to have one to evaluate any health care concerns they may have, Hoffman said. In addition, women need to obtain their first pap smear at age 21; and, if students are sexually active and have had changes in partners or have had any reoccurring symptoms, they should schedule an exam, she said.
In order to accommodate a wide-variety of services, the Health Center has a full pharmacy and lab, and they are both staffed with physicians, nurse practitioners and nurses. They offer all allergy injections, physicals, immunizations and focus on chronic and acute illnesses, Hoffman said.
Student Health Services provides a wide range of services including IV therapy for dehydration, nutritional counseling, EKG’s and services for depression and ADD/ADHD, Hoffman said.
Sophomore Dana Schriver said the on-campus Health Center is a great way for students to stop by and review any health concerns they may have because of its strategic and convenient location. Students can quickly stop by following a class and not have to drive all the way to their doctor. They can just take a five-minute walk, she said.
