Not every illness or minor discomfort warrants a trip to SHS. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is treat yourself to a little self care and avoid spreading your germs around campus. See below for information about common illnesses, and when to contact SHS for treatment.
The Flu
The flu tends to come on more suddenly than a common cold. Symptoms include fever (100.4 degrees or above), headache, achy muscles, cold sweat, dry cough, fatigue, nasal congestion, and sore throat.
What To Do
If you get the flu, it’s important to take good care of yourself and avoid spreading the disease to others. As soon as you start to feel flu-like symptoms, call SHS or send a message through Patient Connect to ask for advice. Unless you are experiencing difficulty breathing, chest or abdominal pain, dizziness or persistent vomiting, you may not even need to see a doctor.
Stay in bed! Drink plenty of fluids and take an over-the-counter fever reducer like Tylenol or Advil (but avoid aspirin, as it can cause a serious brain disease in flu sufferers). Ask a friend to be your “flu buddy” and pick up assignments, food, tissues, and other supplies—they can get a free mask from SHS to help them make safe deliveries.
Wear a mask to go to the bathroom in your dorm or any other time you are in public. Wash your hands thoroughly and often. Disinfect high-touch surfaces (like keyboards, door knobs, and your phone) with anti-bacterial wipes.
If you live off campus or in graduate housing, stay home until any fever you may have has subsided for a minimum of 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medications). For most flu sufferers, this will take about four days. If your family home is close to campus, consider spending your recovery time at home.
If you have a meal plan, you can order a Flu Meal of easy-to-tolerate items like bananas, rice, and applesauce.
Learn how to make an appointment for respiratory illnesses at SHS.
Upper Respiratory Infection (Common Cold)
Sore throat, runny nose, coughing, and sneezing—most adults have had a pesky cold at some point in their life.
What to Do
While there is no cure for the common cold, over-the-counter medicines can help ease symptoms. Get lots of rest and drink plenty of fluids. Contact SHS if you have a fever over 100.4 degrees or if your symptoms last more than 10 days.
Avoid spreading your cold by staying home and avoiding close contact with others. (That means no kissing, hugging, or even shaking hands.) Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your upper shirt sleeve, completely covering your nose and mouth. Wash your hands constantly and disinfect surfaces that you touch often.
Learn how to make an appointment for respiratory illnesses at SHS.
Bronchitis (Chest Cold)
Coughing caused by swollen airways in the lungs and increased mucus production is called bronchitis, or a chest cold. You may feel a soreness in your chest and throat, mild head and body aches, and fatigue. A low fever is common, too.
What to Do
Acute bronchitis will usually go away on its own—antibiotics are generally not needed. Contact SHS if your fever goes above 100.4 degrees, you’re having trouble breathing, your mucus is thick or bloody, or your symptoms last more than three weeks.
A humidifier or cool mist vaporizer may help soothe your cough. Steamy showers and non-medicated cough drops can offer relief as well.
Learn how to make an appointment for respiratory illnesses at SHS.
Strep Throat
Wondering if your sore throat might be strep? Only a throat swab from a doctor can tell you if you’ve been infected with Streptococcus bacteria. Call SHS if your sore throat is accompanied by fever, red and swollen tonsils (maybe with some white patches or streaks), red spots on the roof of your mouth, and/or swollen lymph nodes in the front of your neck. If you do indeed have strep, a round of antibiotics can help you recover more quickly, as well as prevent complications like a rheumatic fever.
If your voice is hoarse or raspy and you have a runny nose or cough, it’s more likely that you have a virus and not strep—and antibiotics won’t help you.
What to Do
Whether it’s strep throat or a virus, limit your contact with others, step up your hand washing, and disinfect high-touch surfaces until your illness subsides.
Acute Vaginitis
Vaginal inflammation that results in irregular discharge, itching, and pain during sex or urination is called vaginitis. Bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections and the sexually transmitted trichomoniasis are all forms of vaginitis.
What to Do
Generally, it’s a good idea to see a doctor in most cases of down-there discomfort, especially if you’re sexually active or experiencing fever, chills, or pelvic pain. If you’ve had a yeast infection in the past and are confident in your ability to self-diagnose, you can try treating it with an over-the-counter medication like Monistat (or a generic—they’re just as effective as prescription medications). If your symptoms persist after treatment, make an appointment online or send a message to the nurse.
If the discomfort and discharge aren’t enough to put your sex life on hold for a few days, keep in mind that the inflammation caused by trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis could put you at greater risk of getting an STI.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Did you know that UTIs are the among the most common infections in people? While older adults are particularly prone to contracting a UTI, sexually active adults (especially people with vaginas) are at risk, too.
UTIs are caused by bacteria that has entered the opening of the bladder. These bacteria could come from anywhere, especially—yup—your anus. Keep your urinary tract happier by peeing before and after sex, staying well hydrated, and generally not putting anything like powders or sprays near your genital area.
What to Do
If you’re experiencing painful and frequent urination, a low fever, cloudy or bloody urine, and/or lower abdominal cramping, call SHS. Most UTIs affect the bladder, but the infection could spread to your kidneys, causing symptoms like high fever, night sweats, nausea, and confusion or disorientation. A doctor can determine if the infection is a bladder infection, kidney infection, or a symptom of something else, like an STI. Most UTIs are successfully treated with antibiotics.
Mpox
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is caused by a virus. Symptoms of mpox can include fever, headache, muscle aches or backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and exhaustion. It is often accompanied by a rash that can look like pimples or blisters that may appear on the genitals, anus, inside of the mouth, face, hands, feet, chest or other areas.
Mpox is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI), but it can be transmitted through close physical contact like kissing, cuddling, or sex. It can also be spread by direct contact with infectious rashes, scabs or fluids, or by touching items that have previously touched an infectious rash or bodily fluids (such as clothing, sheets, or towels).
Mpox is not a new illness. However, there is concern about the increasing number of cases across the United States and globally. Although gay, bisexual, queer men, and transgender and nonbinary people who have sex with men have recently been disproportionally affected, anyone can be infected with mpox regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. Current messaging about mpox being a “gay” illness creates stigma, perpetuates misconceptions, harms those who are most vulnerable, and prevents reaching all who are at risk.
SHS is working closely with state and local health officials to prevent, identify, and provide medical care for mpox.
What To Do
If you are experiencing symptoms or have been exposed to someone with mpox, please call SHS at (617) 353-3575. We can help you get tested, treated, or find a vaccination location.
If you test positive for mpox and live in a shared space on campus, SHS will work with Residence Life and BU Housing to coordinate accommodations for you so that you can isolate. If you have been exposed but do not test positive, you do not need to quarantine.
Abdominal Pain and Digestive Issues
Nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, heartburn…there is no shortage of gastrointestinal issues you might experience.
What to Do
Call SHS if you are experiencing discomfort or pain that lasts more than a few days. If you are in severe pain, have persistent nausea and/or vomiting, tenderness or swelling in your abdomen, or your skin appears yellow, get help immediately.
Take care of your GI tract by eating fiber-rich foods (like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables) and staying hydrated. Eating smaller meals and slowing down while you eat can help prevent indigestion and heartburn. Light exercise can ease constipation and bloating.
Low Back Pain
Back pain is most often caused by a strain or a sprain from improper lifting, bad posture, or lack of exercise. Most back pain will go away on its own, but more serious injuries like vertebral fractures or ruptured disks require a doctor’s care.
What to Do
Resting in bed can help you feel more comfortable, but be advised that inactivity for more than a day can do more harm than good. Over-the-counter pain relievers as well as hot or cold compresses may help ease the pain.
Call SHS if your back pain is accompanied by weakness, numbness, or tingling that spreads down one or both legs. Unintended weight loss and swelling or redness on your back could also be signs of a more serious issue. Get emergency medical help if your back pain comes along with new bowel/bladder control issues.
Headaches
A headache can be any type of pain in your head—one side or both, throbbing or vise-like, sharp or dull. A headache can happen suddenly or gradually, and last for a few minutes or a few days. Headaches can be caused by dehydration, alcohol, caffeine withdrawal, processed foods, stress, lack of sleep… Are you surprised that a lot of college students suffer from headaches?
A headache can also be a sign of a more serious condition, like a concussion, meningitis, an aneurysm, or encephalitis.
What to Do
Seek emergency medical help if you are experiencing confusion, fainting, high fever, vomiting (unless you know it’s just your hangover), or having trouble doing things like walking, speaking, or understanding speech. If your headaches are occurring more frequently or severely than usual, don’t improve with the help of over-the-counter medicines, or are getting in the way of your participation in daily activities, you should consult with a medical provider.