Flu cases on campus have increased from three in December to more than 100 in February, according to Deweese Health Center records. 

It’s cold and flu season on a college campus, so an increase in flu cases is common at this time of year, Amanda Bretzin, the health promotion and assessment specialist at Deweese said. 

College campuses are hotspots for the flu because the flu is spread through droplets in the air, Bretzin said.

“So if you are coughing, sneezing and not washing your hands in between those instances,” she said, “you could be spreading the flu.” 

Students should practice healthy habits to avoid the flu, Bretzin said. 

“Washing your hands frequently, trying to avoid others that are sick, staying hydrated, eating nutritious foods and exercising,” Bretzin said. “All of those are going to help build up your immune system and be preventative measures.” 

Getting a flu shot, which is offered to students at the health center, is also recommended by Bretzin. 

By practicing these healthy habits, students will be more prepared to decide whether to attend class or stay at home if they test positive for the flu. 

According to the health center, students with the flu should follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines when deciding whether to go to class.

Students should stay home until they are fever-free and their symptoms have improved for at least 24 hours, according to the CDC. They also recommend people with suspected or confirmed flu but no fever to stay home for at least five days after symptoms appear. 

Stay home if the symptoms are unmanageable, Bretzin said. 

“During that time, get your rest,” Bretzin said. “Make sure that you are getting enough sleep, eating nutritious foods and drinking enough fluids.” 

Haylee Hartong, a junior public relations major, missed five days of classes and had symptoms for at least 10 days when she had the flu in February. She went to the Cleveland Clinic in Kent three days after she noticed symptoms. 

“I thought it was just a cold or I was just stuffy from allergies, so I didn’t go until I had a fever,” Hartong said. 

She waited too long to visit the clinic after her symptoms began, Hartong said. 

“They didn’t give me anything because they can’t give you Tamiflu, which is the flu medicine, unless you come between like the first two days you start getting symptoms,” Hartong said. 

Tamiflu, also known as Oseltamivir, is a medication that treats infections caused by the flu. 

If Tamiflu isn’t prescribed, symptoms should be treated using over-the-counter medications, Bretzin said. 

Hartong primarily relied on over-the-counter medications to treat her symptoms, and Mucinex Cold and Flu was the most effective, she said. 

When she began feeling sick, Hartong was unsure how long to wait until visiting a health clinic. The timeline of visiting a health clinic can be tricky, Bretzin said. 

“It’s going to vary from person to person on what they’re comfortable treating at home versus going to a doctor,” Bretzin said. “But we’re happy to see any students that are feeling under the weather to help guide them through what they should be doing next.” 

The health center offers appointments and walk-ins for students Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

“I feel like for most of our students here on campus, we are a nice one-stop shop,” Bretzin said. “So don’t be hesitant to reach out if you need help.”

Jewels Cydrus is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].