How to Handle Being Sick at College

Being sick at college can be challenging for a number of reasons. You’ll likely miss a class or two, have to skip time friends, and maybe worst of all, your parents aren’t able bring you Gatorade or meals to help you feel better. These tips to help you recover when you’re feeling under the weather and ensure those around you remain germ-free.

What to Eat and Drink When You’re Sick in College

Depending on your symptoms, you might be able to stomach certain foods and drinks better than others. If you can eat normally, great! If not, here are a few things that can help ease your symptoms and help you on the road to recovery.

• BRAT Diet: The BRAT diet is often recommended for an upset stomach or other gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea. The acronym BRAT stands for: bananas, rice, applesauce, toast. What do all of these things have in common? They’re all quite bland. Other bland items that can help calm your stomach include oatmeal, pretzels or saltine crackers, and even baked potatoes. Avoid any foods that can contribute to gas, bloating, or nausea such as hearty vegetables, beans, dairy, and greasy or fried foods.
• Broth or Soup: Chicken soup is, in fact, good for you when you’re sick! And if you can’t get a hold of some homemade chicken soup, even boxed chicken broth can give you similar benefits. Sipping on broth or soup helps you stay hydrated, and is easy to digest when you’re battling a stomach ache or other illness. You can even enhance your broth by heating it with ingredients like onions, garlic, or ginger to take advantage of their beneficial compounds that support the immune system.
• Hydration: No matter your symptoms, one thing you should be hyper aware of is staying hydrated. Sipping on water, sports drinks, or other drinks containing electrolytes can help keep dehydration at-bay. Another great thing to sip on when you’re not feeling your best? A yogurt smoothie! Incorporating ingredients like fruit, greens, and yogurt can help you get the vitamins and protein your body needs to recover, without sitting down to eat a big meal. A note of caution: avoid smoothies if you’re vomiting, and sip on small amounts of water, weak tea, sports drinks, or flat non-caffeinated soda until you’re feeling better.
• Vitamin C: Foods that contain vitamin C are always a good option when you’re feeling under the weather. Foods that are packed full of vitamin C include citrus fruits like lemons, limes, and oranges, as well as other produce such as bell peppers, strawberries, and tomatoes. While vitamin C isn’t strong enough to magically cure your illness, having sufficient levels in your body is crucial for your immune system to function well.

How to Prevent the Spread of Illness in College

Living communally can make it difficult to keep your germs away from roommates, dorm-mates, and classmates. But there are certainly steps you can take to prevent the spread of germs at college including:

• Wash your hands frequently: Washing your hands with warm water and an antibacterial soap is one of the most helpful steps you can take to prevent the spread of germs. It’s especially important to wash your hands before and after using a shared space like the library computers, gym equipment, or other high-touch areas. If you don’t always have access to soap and water, keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer in your bag to ensure you’re able to sanitize on-the-go.
• Don’t share items: Anything that you own and use on a regular basis should be yours and yours only—this includes things like water bottles, towels, and makeup. Keeping them to yourself ensures you’re not sharing germs even before you know you’re sick.
• Keep your distance: When you’re not feeling well, inform your roommates that you’re going to be keeping to yourself until you feel better. This means no group trips to the cafeteria, no social gatherings, and possibly no class. It’s important to keep your professors or advisors updated on your condition so that you can work together to ensure you don’t fall behind on your assignments.
• Break out your mask: Even though mask mandates have gone by the wayside in many places, face masks are a useful tool to keeping those around you healthy. If you know that you were exposed to someone with symptoms of an illness, or are recovering from one yourself, wearing a mask to class or the library is a considerate step to take.

When Should You Go to The Health Center or Emergency Department?

While it can be hard to know when you should see a health-care provider for your illness, the following guidelines can be useful. You should walk-in or schedule an appointment at your student health center, or schedule an OnDemand video visit with a Penn Medicine provider if you are experiencing:

• A high fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit that won’t subside after fever-reducing medication (such as Advil or Tylenol)
• Cold-like symptoms that last for 10 days and don’t improve
• A sore throat that rapidly gets worse
• Severe vomiting
• Moderate or severe stomach pain or nausea
• Symptoms of dehydration such as headache, dry mouth and eyes, passing small amounts of urine infrequently

If you are having a medical emergency that you feel is life or limb-threatening, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department right away. You should also seek immediate medical attention if you are experiencing:

• Trouble breathing or shortness of breath
• Pressure or pain in the chest
• Fainting, dizziness, or loss of balance
• Confusion or disorientation
• Slurred speech

It’s useful to program your health center’s phone number into your cell phone, and inquire as to whether your health center has a doctor on-call after hours. When in doubt, it’s always a good idea to contact a health-care provider with questions about your symptoms or condition.