Mom, I’m Sick….

 
IMG_1305.jpg
 

It’s cold and flu season and if you have a child in college, you just might get a distress phone call that sounds like this: (coughing sounds) “Mom, I’m soooo sick, what should I do?” (more coughing sounds)

First, find out exactly what your child is experiencing. Most upper respiratory illnesses can be treated at home, but here are some symptoms that are concerning:

Urgent - Your child or an accompanying person should call 911:

  • Struggling to breathe, speaking one word at a time

  • Can’t stand up

  • Cough or mouth/throat irritation that started suddenly accompanied by hives

  • Your child looks or sounds like they are in a life-threatening emergency


Concerning - Your child needs a medical evaluation:

  • High fever (> 103)

  • Persistent fever ( > 3 days)

  • Continuous, nonstop coughing

  • Earache

  • Swollen lymph nodes in the neck (“swollen glands”)

  • Pus on tonsils

  • Difficulty swallowing (spitting saliva or drooling)

  • Unable to open mouth completely

  • Dehydration (low urine production, dry mouth, light-headed, hasn’t been able to eat or drink much)

  • Rash

  • Severe or persistent sinus pain (pain over the cheekbones or around the eyes or eyebrows)

  • Trouble breathing (but able to breathe)

  • Your child looks/sounds very sick or weak

If your student is experiencing any of the above, they should call the student health center for a same-day appointment (not all health centers accept walk-ins).

Basic Mom advice for treatment of colds and flu (and items for your get-well care package):

General Advice

  • Drink plenty of fluids, such as water, tea, chicken soup.

  • Try herbal teas such as Congest-Less (loose tea) by Zen’s Tea or Elderberry Healer (tea bags) from Rishi Tea .

  • Rest. Skip optional activities and parties. Get enough sleep (8-10 hours) that you don’t need your alarm to wake up.

  • For fever or pain (if needed): Acetaminophen (Tylenol): 650 mg every 4 hours or 1000 mg every 6 hours OR Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil): 400 mg every 6 hours or 600 mg every 8 hours.

  • For irritated skin around the nose: use plain ointment such as Aquaphor.

  • Colds are caused by viruses. Antibiotics, which target bacteria, cannot cure a cold. However, antibiotics may be prescribed to treat related conditions such as sinusitis or pneumonia.

Sore Throat

  • Gargle with warm salt water (1/4-1/2 teaspoon salt in 8 oz water).

  • Throat Coat tea by Traditional Medicinals can relieve throat pain (available in many supermarkets).

Cough

  • Take a steamy shower, or put head over hot water in a sink with a towel over it to trap the steam.

  • Cough drops (I like Ricola herbal cough drops).

  • Honey has been shown to reduce cough symptoms. Try hot tea or water with 2 teaspoons of honey, and a squeeze of lemon if available.

Check back with your child in 1-3 days. If new symptoms are developing, a visit to student health services or local urgent care center may be advisable (see concerning symptoms list above).

Parents, Adolescent Med, Integrative Medicine, CollegeLinda SchackIllnesses