{"id":1236,"date":"2023-08-25T11:28:03","date_gmt":"2023-08-25T15:28:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/health-services\/?page_id=1236"},"modified":"2023-08-25T11:28:03","modified_gmt":"2023-08-25T15:28:03","slug":"seasonal-influenza","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/health-services\/seasonal-influenza\/","title":{"rendered":"Seasonal Influenza"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-influenza-flu\"><strong>What is Influenza (Flu)?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and sometimes the lungs.&nbsp; It can cause mild to severe illness in the college age population.&nbsp; The best way to prevent flu is by getting a flu vaccine every year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"flu-symptoms\"><strong>Flu Symptoms<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Flu symptoms usually come on suddenly.&nbsp; People who have flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fever or feeling feverish\/chills<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cough<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sore throat<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Runny or stuffy nose<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Muscle or body aches<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Headache<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fatigue<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea as well.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-flu-spreads\"><strong>How Flu Spreads<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Flu viruses are mainly spread by tiny droplets when a person coughs, sneezes or talks.&nbsp; The droplets can land in the mouths and noses of others who are nearby.&nbsp; Less often, a person might get the flu by touching surfaces or objects that have the flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"period-of-contagiousness\"><strong>Period of Contagiousness<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>You may be able to spread flu to someone else before you know you are sick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>People with flu are most contagious in the first 3 days after symptoms begin.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some otherwise healthy adults can begin to infect others one day <strong>before<\/strong> symptoms develop and up to five to seven days <strong>after<\/strong> becoming sick.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"onset-of-symptoms\"><strong>Onset of Symptoms<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>The time from when a person is exposed to when symptoms begin is about two days but can range from one to four days.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"complications-of-flu\"><strong>Complications of Flu<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Complications of flu most commonly seen can include bronchitis, sinus infections, ear infections and pneumonia.&nbsp; Persons with chronic medical conditions can experience a worsening of their condition.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"preventing-seasonal-flu\"><strong>Preventing Seasonal Flu<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>The first and most important step in preventing flu is to <strong>get a flu vaccine each year<\/strong>.&nbsp; Flu vaccines have been shown to reduce flu-related illnesses and risk of developing serious complications and hospitalization.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Monmouth University hosts monthly flu vaccination clinics during the Fall semester.&nbsp;&nbsp; It is best to get the annual flu vaccine in early fall each to provide protection throughout the flu season.&nbsp; It takes two weeks from time of the flu shot until protective immunity begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The CDC also recommends everyday preventive measures such as frequent handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, staying hydrated, good nutrition and getting plenty of sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"diagnosing-flu\"><strong>Diagnosing Flu<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>It is very difficult to distinguish flu from other respiratory viruses.&nbsp; Clinicians at the on-campus Health Center can test you for influenza using rapid flu kits and\/or PCR swabs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"treating-flu\"><strong>Treating Flu<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>There are anti-viral drugs that can be used to treat flu illness.&nbsp; They are best used when taken within 48 hours of the onset of illness.&nbsp; Health Center clinicians can prescribe anti-viral drugs to shorten the course of illness and make you feel better sooner.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The remainder of treatment is largely symptomatic.&nbsp; Take acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen for fever, chills, headache, throat pain.&nbsp; Take a decongestant (not an anti-histamine) for stuffy nose along with a saline nasal spray.&nbsp; Guiafenesin helps to thin mucus and break it up so you can clear your nasal and respiratory airways.&nbsp; Get rest and stay hydrated.&nbsp; When your fever is lowered by medication is a good time to take in nutrition such as soup.&nbsp; Don\u2019t \u201cstarve\u201d a fever.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stay home or in your room if you are ill.&nbsp; Do not go to class, work, practice, internship, clinicals or attend social events if you are sick, have a fever and\/or diagnosed with flu.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"course-of-illness\"><strong>Course of Illness<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Influenza symptoms typically last five to seven days.&nbsp; For people who have had a seasonal flu vaccine or have taken an anti-viral medication, it can be shorter.&nbsp; Even when symptoms resolve, you may feel fatigued.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Contact your healthcare provider or the Health Center (732-517-3464 or <a href=\"mailto:health@monmouth.edu\">health@monmouth.edu<\/a>)&nbsp; if symptoms are not improving.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you develop difficulty breathing, seek emergency care by calling MUPD (732-571-4444) if on campus or 911 off-campus.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"return-to-classwork\"><strong>Return to Class\/Work<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Persons may return to class\/work when they are <strong>fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not everyone with flu will have a fever.&nbsp; If you have flu without a fever, you should stay home\/in room for at least 4-5 days after onset of symptoms.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is Influenza (Flu)? Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and sometimes the lungs.&nbsp; It can cause mild to severe illness in the college age population.&nbsp; The best way to prevent flu is by getting a flu vaccine every year.&nbsp; Flu Symptoms Flu symptoms usually come [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_mu_eop_enabled":false,"_mu_eop_name":"","_mu_eop_name_override":false,"_mu_eop_description":"","_mu_eop_description_override":false,"_mu_eop_url":"","_mu_eop_url_override":false,"_mu_eop_program_type":"","_mu_eop_educational_credential":"","_mu_eop_time_to_complete":"","_mu_eop_number_of_credits":"","_mu_eop_occupational_category":"","_mu_eop_occupational_category_code":"","_mu_eop_program_prerequisites":"","_mu_eop_application_deadline":"","_mu_eop_application_start_date":"","_mu_eop_start_date":"","_mu_eop_end_date":"","_mu_eop_day_of_week":"","_mu_eop_time_of_day":"","_mu_eop_educational_program_mode":"","_mu_eop_financial_aid_eligible":"","_mu_eop_maximum_enrollment":"","_mu_eop_offers_price":"","_mu_eop_offers_currency":"USD","_mu_eop_offers_price_per":"","_mu_eop_offers_preset":"","_mu_eop_salary_upon_completion":"","_mu_eop_training_salary":"","_mu_eop_recognized_by_name":"","_mu_eop_recognized_by_url":"","_mu_eop_concentrations":"","_mu_eop_identifier_cip":"","_mu_eop_provider_name":"","_mu_eop_provider_name_override":false,"_mu_eop_provider_url":"","_mu_eop_provider_address":"","_mu_eop_provider_city":"","_mu_eop_provider_state":"","_mu_eop_provider_zip":"","_mu_eop_provider_country":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1236","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/health-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1236","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/health-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/health-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/health-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/health-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1236"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/health-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1236\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1239,"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/health-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1236\/revisions\/1239"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monmouth.edu\/health-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}