How will I know if I have the flu?

Symptoms of influenza include fever of over 100 degrees, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people have also reported diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

The flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses but they are caused by different viruses. Because these two types of illnesses have similar flu-like symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. Go here to see a comparison chart of cold vs. flu symptoms.

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What should I do if I have flu symptoms?

If you have a fever of more than 100° F and a cough or sore throat, stay home and rest. Generally, you do not need to be seen unless you are pregnant or have an underlying medical condition that puts you at higher risk for developing serious complications from the flu, or unless your symptoms are serious. In adults, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion, or severe or persistent vomiting, or flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough would be considered serious symptoms. Serious symptoms in children would include fast breathing or trouble breathing, bluish skin color, not drinking enough fluids, not waking up or not interacting, irritability to the point of not wanting to be held, or flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough.

If you're not sure whether you need to be seen by a health care professional to be evaluated or if you should stay home, feel free to call your primary care provider for advice. You may also call for advice on over-the-counter medications you can take to treat normal influenza symptoms. Suffolk Health & Wellness Services and other health care providers in the U.S. are no longer performing routine flu tests on patients with influenza symptoms.

To avoid spreading the illness to others, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health recommends that individuals who become sick with the flu should avoid close contact with other people until 4 days after onset of symptoms OR 24 hours after a fever has resolved and body temperature has remained normal without the use of fever-reducing drugs such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Human Resources at Suffolk has additional information on the Institute's current leave and payment policies and the policies that will be in effect in the case of more widespread illness or another emergency.

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Who is at higher risk for developing serious complications from seasonal influenza?

The people who are at higher risk of serious complication are women who are pregnant, individuals older than 65 or younger than 2, people with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease, and people whose immune systems are suppressed due to medications or medical conditions.

 

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How should I clean my living/ workspace if someone becomes sick with flu-like symptoms?

You should follow the same infection-control practices you would use during the normal cold and flu season. To prevent the spread of illness, disinfect commonly touched hard surfaces in the living/ workplace, including counter tops, door knobs, telephones, copy machines, work stations, and bathroom surfaces by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label. A list of recommended products can be found here. Studies have shown that the virus does not remain infectious on environmental surfaces for more than eight hours. Frequent hand washing is the best way to avoid infection from contaminated surfaces.

To prevent the spread of influenza virus, it is recommended that tissues and other disposable items used by an infected person be thrown in the trash. Additionally, persons should wash their hands with soap and water after touching used tissues and similar waste.

Linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick do not need to be cleaned separately, but importantly these items should not be shared without washing thoroughly first.

Linens (such as bed sheets and towels) should be washed by using household laundry soap and tumbled dry on a hot setting. Individuals should avoid “hugging” laundry prior to washing it to prevent contaminating themselves. Individuals should wash their hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub immediately after handling dirty laundry. Eating utensils should be washed either in a dishwasher or by hand with water and soap.

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How many flu vaccinations will I need this year?

You will only need one flu vaccine for the 2010-2011 flu season. back to top^

When should I get vaccinated against seasonal flu?

The Office of Health & Wellness Services is now offering flu vaccines by appointment or during walk-in hours. Vaccination clinics will be held on campus and will be announced soon. A schedule will be posted on www.suffolk.edu/flu  website as soon as it is finalized.

Students: If your home is close to Suffolk University and you wish to be vaccinated, you should make an appointment with your own primary care provider for vaccination and/or evaluation and treatment of illness. If you are unable to make an appointment with your own primary care provider, you can receive the seasonal flu shot at one of the on-campus clinics.

Employees:  You should make an appointment with your own primary care provider for vaccination and/or evaluation and treatment of illness. If you have questions regarding flu clinics for employees please contact Human Resources at 617.573.8415.

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