The Challenges of Navigating Sickness
Especially in college, the end of October, Halloween, midterms and sickness all go together. Working with students in high school and college all over the country, it doesn’t seem to matter where you live or go to school, the viruses start attacking. During Covid, with everyone masked up, all the colds and flus seemed to disappear, although some got Covid during this time. This is not the case now- no masks and everyone in classes or dorms or sororities and fraternities, all together all the time. There are sounds of noses running, coughing, and sneezing- some with fevers, sinus and ear infections, sore throats, and fatigue. Hard to attend classes and complete assignments and study for tests at the same time when all they want to do is curl up in bed and sleep.
The most important students need to do is contact their teachers or professors and let them know they will be missing classes and assignments so they can work out a catchup time frame as needed. Next is have medicine available – for sore throats, colds and fevers, and lots of liquids- juices, tea, and soup. Hopefully, if in college, a roommate can bring in food for the sick one. Some places even deliver if a student is sick. It is necessary if they are not getting better or feel sicker to go to the doctor or health service if at college. Right now, I have one student with an ear infection, two with sinus infections, one with strep throat, and one with an upper respiratory infection.
The hardest step is going back to class and making up all the work missed. Usually teachers are kind and allow a time period to get everything turned in or tests to be made up. Being an advocate for themselves is most important and they will feel less stress overall if they have made a plan to get caught up.