Health Information

Monthly Health Issue

October 2005

Free HIV Testing

Free HIV Testing by Pennsylvania Dept. of Health will be offered at Student Health Service three times a semester. Watch your campus e-mail for schedule dates.

Some Tips for Proper Antibiotic Use:

Never take an antibiotic for viral illness such as cold, flu, or cough
Take antibiotics exactly as the doctor prescribes
Take the antibiotic until it is gone, even if you are feeling better
Do not use antibioitcs that have been prescribed for someone else
Discard left-over antibiotics-- never save the drugs to treat yourself or others later

Did You Know Antibiotic Overuse is Contributing to Antibiotic Resistance?

More than half of antibiotic prescriptions each year are unnecessary
Each day, 50 Americans die from infections that can no longer be cured by antibiotics
Continued overuse could make today's antibiotics useless in just 10 to 20 years
More than one-third of Americans use antibiotics improperly
Antibiotics are useless against viruses, which cause common colds and flu

Five Fast Flu Facts

Flu symptoms include fever, headache, chills, body aches, tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, and nasal congestion.
Flu is spread when a person who has the flu coughs, sneezes, or speaks and send the flu virus into the air. The virus enters the nose, throat, or lungs of a person and multiplies. Flu spreads less frequently when a person touches a surface that has flu viruses on it.
If you get the flu: rest, drink plenty of fluids, and avoid alcohol and tobacco.
Antibiotics like penicillin will not cure the flu. The best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu shot. Over-the-counter medications may relieve symptoms of flu. The National Institute of Allergies & Infectious Diseases recommends acetaminophen (Tylenol) for children; aspirin or acetaminophen for adults. Decongestants, cough suppressants, and use of a humidifier can provide symptomatic relief.
In addition to flu shots, three antiviral medicines are available by prescription that will help prevent flu infection: Tamiflu, Flumadine and Symmetrel.