Flu on the rise in college students
Hannah Alexander
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: News
Although the number of flu cases is higher, Dobash attributed the high numbers to the increase in the number of diagnoses for the flu. The largest number of diagnoses were made toward the end of January and are now beginning to decrease.
"We are seeing more diagnosed influenza because of the rapid flu test accuracy, not necessarily because of the number of people with the flu," Dobash said.
According to Rideout, this year's high numbers in flu diagnoses are also because of the ineffective flu vaccines.
"The numbers are not horribly higher, but significant," she said.
"It was thought to be protective but turned out not to be," Rideout said.
"The flu vaccine changes every year," Dobash said. "It is an educated guess as to how to construct it."
Both Rideout and Dobash said they have made several flu diagnoses on students who had gotten the vaccine before the start of the flu season.
According to The Daily Pennsylvanian, the student body of the University of Pennsylvania formed a vaccine service and gave out 200 flu shots at Houston Hall within a week. At Oklahoma State University, more than 300 prescriptions for Tamiflu were filled, as reported by The Daily Pennsylvanian.
The anti-viral Tamiflu, used to treat influenza patients, must be given within the first 48 hours of symptoms. According to Rideout, the typical duration of the flu is seven to 10 days, but can be shortened to five to eight days by Tamiflu.
"If it is too late for Tamiflu, then we can only do symptomatic care," Rideout said.
In this year's flu season, Dobash said he has not found, so far, flu patients to be coming from one particular age group. However, Dobash has diagnosed roommates and suitemates of other flu patients within the same week and sometimes within the same day.
"The bad weather means people spend more time inside," Dobash said. "This means more contact with more sick people."
"Here there are more people in smaller areas, meaning closer proximity," Rideout said. "It's almost like a prison because you can't escape."
Margaret DeGennaro, a freshman and communications major, believes that catching the college flu is different than getting the f?lu elsewhere.
"We live in such close quarters you can almost pinpoint exactly how you got sick just by walking down the hall," DeGennaro said.
According to Rideout and Dobash, common symptoms of the flu are high fever, muscle aches, congestion, chills and sweats.
"With this virus, they feel like they have been hit by a truck," Dobash said. "Students should not go to class, especially if they have a fever."
"We are seeing more diagnosed influenza because of the rapid flu test accuracy, not necessarily because of the number of people with the flu," Dobash said.
According to Rideout, this year's high numbers in flu diagnoses are also because of the ineffective flu vaccines.
"The numbers are not horribly higher, but significant," she said.
"It was thought to be protective but turned out not to be," Rideout said.
"The flu vaccine changes every year," Dobash said. "It is an educated guess as to how to construct it."
Both Rideout and Dobash said they have made several flu diagnoses on students who had gotten the vaccine before the start of the flu season.
According to The Daily Pennsylvanian, the student body of the University of Pennsylvania formed a vaccine service and gave out 200 flu shots at Houston Hall within a week. At Oklahoma State University, more than 300 prescriptions for Tamiflu were filled, as reported by The Daily Pennsylvanian.
The anti-viral Tamiflu, used to treat influenza patients, must be given within the first 48 hours of symptoms. According to Rideout, the typical duration of the flu is seven to 10 days, but can be shortened to five to eight days by Tamiflu.
"If it is too late for Tamiflu, then we can only do symptomatic care," Rideout said.
In this year's flu season, Dobash said he has not found, so far, flu patients to be coming from one particular age group. However, Dobash has diagnosed roommates and suitemates of other flu patients within the same week and sometimes within the same day.
"The bad weather means people spend more time inside," Dobash said. "This means more contact with more sick people."
"Here there are more people in smaller areas, meaning closer proximity," Rideout said. "It's almost like a prison because you can't escape."
Margaret DeGennaro, a freshman and communications major, believes that catching the college flu is different than getting the f?lu elsewhere.
"We live in such close quarters you can almost pinpoint exactly how you got sick just by walking down the hall," DeGennaro said.
According to Rideout and Dobash, common symptoms of the flu are high fever, muscle aches, congestion, chills and sweats.
"With this virus, they feel like they have been hit by a truck," Dobash said. "Students should not go to class, especially if they have a fever."
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