If you have a college freshman - are they sick right now?

[Anonymous]

It is so hard when they are sick and away from your home.

What are your criteria for telling them to go to student health services vs trying to self treat for a few days?

[Anonymous]

DS had a sore throat earlier this week. Wasn't enough to go to student health. I had the local grocery store deliver Dayquil, cough drops, lemonade, and some comfort foods.

[Anonymous]

Mine was sick the second week of classes!

When she had a fever for two days, I told her to go to student health.

My older one was sick within a month of us dropping him off, also sent him to student health after whatever he had wasn't getting any better after two days.

Which was pretty much my guide when they were younger and at home -- after two days, if no improvement, off to the pediatrician or urgent care we go.

[Anonymous]

No one cares to get flu shots anymore?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is so hard when they are sick and away from your home.

What are your criteria for telling them to go to student health services vs trying to self treat for a few days?

The same as the standard at home for seeing the doctor. The vast majority of the time for otherwise healthy college students, no medical care is needed for the flu, covid, or a stomach bug. A really bad sore throat needs a strep test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one cares to get flu shots anymore?

Did get a flu shot and tested negative for flu and covid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one cares to get flu shots anymore?

Mine got his and a Covid booster and hasn’t been sick

[Anonymous]

I guess if they didn't grow up going to the doctor, they might not realize they have access to student health, but didn't orientation teach them that they can go there?

[Anonymous]

My son complained of sore quads after an intense workout at the gym.

[Anonymous]

Mine is sick. Makes me super anxious.

[Anonymous]

Mine said Covid was going around one part of their dorm floor, but it never made it to her end.

We did buy a very good air purifier for the room, so I’m guessing that may have helped. It’s an old dorm with motel-style AC units, not central, so there may not be as much circulation to spread it.

She *says* she’s been trying to prioritize eating and sleeping well, so if true, that’s probably helped. She was pretty good about both in high school, after learning the hard way that she doesn’t function well otherwise, so it probably is. But who knows.

[Anonymous]

Ha my kid just graduated but she was literally sick all but two weeks during the whole year. Get used to it! She had strep twice, Covid, pneumonia, the flu…

[Anonymous]

My sophomore is sick for the first time. I just reminded him about the student health center and suggested he look up where it is and it’s hours in case he felt like he needed it, and reminded him that ibuprofen can help if he felt miserable. I check in on him via text once or twice a day, and he’s doing better after a few days— fever is down.
Don’t know if that approach would work for you but that’s how I’ve handled it.

[Anonymous]

My was sick the first couple of weeks as always!
We used to order take out delivery for them, but not this year.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, OP. My kid is a graduate student at Oxford and has always been sick (and wasn't as an undergraduate at UVA). He calls Oxford the petri dish of the world. And it's true - every time he returns he gets a bug. The same applies to colleges and universities in the United States. I am sorry. But I advise health services ASAP. They can check lungs, ears, etc., and nip something in the bud.