CITRUS COLLEGE STUDENT HEALTH CENTER ***FACTS ABOUT COLDS, INFLUENZA AND SORE THROATS***

______COLDS INFLUENZA SORE THROAT SELF-CARE: **CAUSES** ______Get extra sleep. Rest and don’t push yourself. Virus Virus Virus or Bacteria If you smoke, stop or cut down while you are sick. **SYMPTOMS ** Drink extra fluids: water, juices, teas, soups, carbonated Fever/Chills Fever/Chills Fever/Chills beverages, jello, popsicles. This will help to thin mucus. Muscle Aches Muscle Aches Swollen Neck Glands Vaporizers or steam inhalation will soothe sore throat and Sore Throat Sore Throat Sore Throat sinuses and help to thin mucus. Headache Headache Gargle with salt water. This not only soothes a sore throat, Nasal Congestion Nasal Congestion it can assist in the healing process by destroying viral and Runny Nose Runny Nose bacterial cells. Gargle 3-4 times daily with a mixture of 6 oz Cough Cough warm water and ½ teaspoon table salt. Nausea/Vomiting Avoid alcohol, because it can increase fluid loss and may ______interfere with medications. TRANSMISSION: Cold viruses can live on hard surfaces (e.g. Vitamin C taken in moderate quantities (500 mg twice a day doorknobs) for several days and on skin for several hours. Colds with food) may lessen the severity of a cold. and influenza can be transmitted when you touch a contaminated When taking medications read labels carefully and follow surface and then touch your eyes, mouth or nose. To prevent the instructions. the spread of these illnesses, wash your hands frequently and MEDICAL CARE: avoid touching your eyes, mouth or nose. Use tissues when It is recommended that you seek medical care if any of the coughing or sneezing. Following symptoms occur: Fever over 102 Symptoms persist CAUTION: Under the following conditions consult your doctor Painful sinuses Ear Pain before trying to manage your symptoms: Bloody nasal discharge Discharge from ear Emphysema Asthma Coughing up bloody, yellow Severe headaches Heart Disease Pregnancy/Nursing mothers or greenish phlegm Chest pain Diabetes Any other serious health condition Extreme throat pain Fever with rash, stiff White spots on tonsils neck, severe headache, Difficulty swallowing mental confusion or Cold persisting beyond 10 days marked irritability MEDICATIONS FOR TREATMENT OF SYMPTOMS Symptoms Type of Active Sample Comments Medication Ingredient Brand Fever, Headache, Antipyretic/ Aspirin Bufferin Take aspirin with food or milk to decrease upset stomach. Muscle Aches Analgesic Bayer Do not use aspirin if you have an ulcer or bleeding problems. Acetaminophen Tylenol Aspirin and aspirin-containing products are not recommended Datril for viral infections in people under age 19 due to a serious Anacin 3 complication called Reyes Syndrome. Ibuprofen Advil Ibuprofen should not be used by persons allergic to aspirin, or Motrin with a history of stomach ulcer. Nasal Congestion, Decongestant Pseudoephedrine Sudafed Helps open plugged noses and ears. May cause restlessness, Runny Nose so don’t use at bedtime. Don’t use if you have high blood pressure, diabetes or hyperthyroidism. Phenylpropanolamine These two ingredients are available in many brands but are Phenylephrine usually combined with other active ingredients. Antihistamine Chlorpheniramine Chlortimeton Actifed and Dimetapp also contain one of the above Triprolidine Actifed decongestants. Antihistamines may cause drowsiness. Brompheniramine Dimetapp Antihistamines are more useful for allergy symptoms than Cold symptoms. Decongestant Phenylephrine Neo-Synephrine May cause excessive rebound nasal congestion if used for Nasal Spray Oxymetrazoline Afrin more than 2-3 days. Cough Expectorant Guaifenesin Robitussin Helps loosen and remove mucus. Suppressant Dextromethorphan Robitussin DM Decreases coughs due to throat irritation. Some cough medicines such as Robitussin DM combine an expectorant with a suppressant. Sore Throat Demulcent Cetylpyridinium Cepacol Lozenges Anesthetic Benzocaine Chloraseptic All brands come in a variety of combinations for relief Hexylrescorcinol Sucrets of dryness and/or pain. Phenol Chloraseptic Analgesic Aspirin Bayer Combination drugs contain more than one of the above ingredients and treat more than one symptom. Some may contain medicines you do not need. Read labels carefully and choose the product that contains the ingredients that will treat your symptoms. ANTIBIOTICS, WHILE USEFUL IN THE TREATMENT OF BACTERIAL INFECTIONS ARE INEFFECTIVE AGAINST THE VIRUSES 10/98 THAT CAUSE COLDS AND INFLUENZA