Temperatures are declining to near-freezing levels and North Dakota State’s Student Health Services is preparing for the upcoming cold and flu season.
The Center for Disease Control reported the peak week of flu season occurs sometime between December and March, and that no flu season to date has peaked later than March. The CDC also reported that no flu season has peaked later than March.
Illness prevention
SHS says that a healthcare provider should be sought out by patients after they have incurred a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, have significantly swollen glands making it hard to swallow, worsening symptoms after a prior improvement period, or when patients have symptoms lasting more than 10 days.
To alleviate the common cold, SHS recommends drinking lots of fluids and getting rest.
SHS also offers flu shots that are available to all students for a charge of $30.
About the clinic
SHS is located in the Wallman Wellness Center. The facility operates as both a medical clinic and as a pharmacy exclusively for NDSU students, it does not provide services to staff and faculty.
“It is a comprehensive clinic, so we do everything here from minor procedures to sports injuries to mental health, if its well managed… physicals, they do chronic illness management, acute illness,” Patricia Dirk, the director of student health services, said. She added that if the clinic cannot assist a patient, it will refer out to a specialist in the community.
The clinic provides free, unlimited check-ups for students. It also provides immunizations, laboratory services, prescriptions, procedures, treatments and X-ray exams for patients, though at extra costs to patients. Costs vary by treatment.
Students do not need to be an SHS patient to have prescriptions filled in its pharmacy. Existing prescriptions may be filled on campus.
Students may schedule an appointment by calling the clinic or by visiting the SHS website. Walk-in appointments are also available based on symptoms and availability.
The facility is funded by the health and wellness student fee which was voted to have an increase in funding in the spring by the Student Fee Advisory Board.