Clearing the Air about H1N1 Virus

By Richanne C. Mankey

Vice-President and Dean of Student Affairs

Several costumes inspired by the H1N1 virus were featured at Daemen College this Halloween.  Light-heartedness about the flu is helpful, as it helps us keep the balance between the fear the media seem to be trying to instill and the more mundane realities of flu season.  Differences between the flu and a cold are helpful to know; differences between the seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu, however, are hardly noticeable. 

 

Symptom

Cold

Flu & Swine Flu

Fever

Fever is rare with a cold.

Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.

Coughing

A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.

A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).

Aches

Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.

Severe aches and pains are common with the flu.

Stuffy Nose

Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.

Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu.

Chills

Chills are uncommon with a cold.

60% of people who have the flu experience chills.

Tiredness

Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.

Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu.

Sneezing

Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.

Sneezing is not common with the flu.

Sudden Symptoms

Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.

The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.

Headache

A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.

A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.

Sore Throat

Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.

Sore throat is not commonly present with the flu.

Chest Discomfort

Chest discomfort is mild to20moderate with a cold.

Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu.

 

It's important for all members of our campus community to know to stay home when ill with the flu and to return to campus only after 24 hours without a fever, with no assistance from an analgesic.  So stay home when you're sick so as not to infect others on campus and to promote your own recovery. 

 

To stay healthy in addition to washing hands thoroughly and often, sneeze or cough into your elbow our shoulder (not into you hands), avoid touching your face with your hands, drink hot beverages, gargle with salt water regularly, drink plenty of healthy fluids, and use a neti pot.  Also see information on the Daemen website at http://www.daemen.edu/studentlife/healthservices/flu/Pages/default.aspx

 

To manage the flu and all of the documentation necessary, the Healthy Affairs Committee was established this fall.  Members include Sue Girard, Mike Andrei, Bob Beiswanger, Kathy Boone, Karen Cash, Tony Klejna, Linda Koller, Richanne Mankey, Pam Neumann, Dan Nilsson, Marcie Racki, Gregg Shutts, Frank Sweitzer, Blake Thurman, Sara Walsh, and Tom Wojciechowski. The committee has developed a reporting system so that we can track how many cases of the flu are occurring within our Daemen Community.  So far, our counts are low—reported cases of about 10 weekly.  So, if you're sick with the flu, make sure to report this to your supervisor, faculty member, or directly to the Health Services office (x8446). 

 

Think positively—deciding not to get the flu is less effective than deciding to stay healthy. 

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Tera Kane

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Individualized Studies offered me the chance to create my own major with the classes I wanted to take. My interest is in Science and Health Care Communications.