Half of the students who use the walk-in clinic and the cold clinic in the University Health Service experience flu-like respiratory symptoms, said Dr. Sara Susmano, chief of the Medical Staff.

About 80 percent of the patients helped at the health center go through the walk-in clinic, Susmano said.

“Most of the people are treated for respiratory flu-like symptoms,” she said. Susmano indicated there are two types of flu: one with a cough, sore throat, runny nose, fever and achiness; and the other with symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting.

Susmano said the first three days of a cold can be treated by taking an over-the-counter decongestant, “forcing” fluids and resting. “After the first three days with a cold, we give them a throat culture.

“If a fever persists for longer than three days, or they feel sick for a long time, then they should come in. For fever, they should take Tylenol and not aspirin because of the danger of Reyes Syndrome. They should rest, and the symptoms should be gone by five days after they start,” Susmano said.

If symptoms persist more than three days, Susmano said, a complication could be involved. Complications could involve pneumonia or an ear infection. “Then we may consider giving (patients) an antibiotic,” she said, “if there are very unusual complications of a common cold.

“This is not a bad flu epidemic. We recommend that during the first three days they get rest, avoid alcohol and are not too active. After three days, if symptoms still persist, they should be seen at the health center.”