Collegio Online

Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: Front Page

Media Credit: File Photo

Megan Singer, freshman in psychology, says she had a stomach flu for three days last week, with symptoms including nausea, fever, chills, vomiting and sleepiness.
"I stayed in bed for three days and didn't go to class," Singer said.

While Singer didn't go to the Student Health Center, a university press release issued on Thursday, Feb. 21, said that nearly 1,000 students were treated there for flu-like symptoms.

Although the flu virus this season has demonstrated resistance to this year's vaccination, the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta still encourages receiving the vaccine. Even if the shot does not fully prevent the virus, it still provides protection against other strains and lessens the severity of flu-related complications.

The flu epidemic that is spreading throughout PSU's campus is causing concern, but the health center has been keeping up with demand.

"It has been terribly busy," said Donald Holsinger, medical director of student health services, in the press release. "In most communities, these things run in a three- to six-week cycle, and I believe we're in week three now, so we still have a few weeks to go."

Holsinger says that most of the problems PSU students are facing from the flu have been respiratory and treatable with bed rest, proper eating and hydration.
No case so far has been
serious enough for hospitalization.

For one Missouri Southern State University student, a flu-like virus turned deadly. Danny Sickles, a transfer baseball pitcher from Florida, was found dead in his home early this week after complaining of flu-like symptoms.

Autopsy reports show that Sickles died of bacterial meningitis.

Meningitis is a contagious bacterial infection of a person's spinal cord fluid and the fluid that surrounds the brain. Early symptoms are much like those associated with the flu. These symptoms include fever, headache, stiff or sore neck, nausea, vomiting, confusion, sleepiness and, in severe cases, seizures.
This disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, and affects between 100 and 125 U.S. college students per year.
It is said that students living in residence halls are found to be considerably more susceptible to the disease than those who are not living in such close quarters.

Meningitis can also be developed if someone has an upper respiratory infection or a weak immune system caused by sickness or poor diet.

For more information, go to www.cdc.gov/flu, or call Student Health Services at 235-4452.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools