What type of sickness do you have

Viruses that cause gastroenteritis can enter the intestine from contaminated food or water, or through contact with an infected person.

Symptoms of gastroenteritis can develop anywhere from a few hours to a few days after contamination. Most cases resolve within a couple days without specific treatment, but some may last for up to 10 days.

In addition to avoiding food and water that might be contaminated, you should wash your hands thoroughly and frequently especially because viruses often enter the body through the fecal-oral route, when people do not wash their hands thoroughly after bowel movements. Because stomach flu is contagious, avoid sharing eating utensils, drinks, towels, and other objects that may transmit the virus from one person to another. The biggest health risk posed by gastroenteritis is dehydration. If you exhibit signs of dehydration, including extreme thirst, dry mouth, dark urine, dizziness, and severe weakness, get medical help immediately.

If you cannot replace lost fluids through sipping clear liquids, you may need intravenous fluids and hospitalization. Search form Search. Causes People with allergies have especially sensitive immune systems that react when they contact allergens.

Common allergens include: foods nuts, eggs, milk, soy, shellfish, wheat pollen mold latex pet dander Symptoms Because there are so many possible causes, the symptoms of allergies vary widely. Treatment The easiest and most effective way to treat allergies is to get rid of or avoid the cause. Antihistamines : help relieve or prevent the sneezing, itchy eyes and throat, and postnasal drip that the allergen may cause. They are sold in many forms i. Decongestants: help reduce congestion in your nasal membranes by narrowing the blood vessels that supply those membranes.

They can be purchased in several forms liquid, pill or nasal spray and may be used with an antihistamine or alone to treat nasal swelling related to allergies.

Limit use of nasal sprays to fewer than two to three days in a row because prolonged use can cause the nasal membrane swells, resulting in severe nasal obstruction. Anti-inflammatory agents e. Typically taken as a nasal spray. Some people report that corticosteroids irritate nasal passages. Allergy shots: recommended for serious allergy sufferers, this series of shots are administered by a healthcare provider and contain small amounts of the allergens that cause you discomfort.

The goal of allergy shots is to enable your immune system to build better defenses against allergens. Some allergies go away with age, but others are lifelong.

Prevention Avoid the outdoors between a. Keep windows in your living spaces closed to lower exposure to pollen. To keep cool, use air conditioners and avoid using window and attic fans. Wear a medical alert bracelet or other means to communicate to others about your allergy in case of a reaction. Discuss a prescription for epinephrine e. Review product labels carefully before buying or consuming any item Know what you are eating or drinking.

Cold and Flu Colds and influenza flu are the most common illnesses among college students. Causes Both of these illnesses are upper respiratory infections, meaning they involve your nose, throat, and lungs. Most transmission of these viruses occurs via hand-to-hand contact. Symptoms Flu symptoms come on suddenly and affect the body all over.

When you get the flu, you are also more prone to bronchitis, sinus, and ear infections. Cold symptoms mostly affect above the neck and include: a runny or stuffy nose nasal congestion , sneezing, sore throat, and cough. Treatment If any problem is causing you discomfort, you should seek medical care.

There are tips to help you feel better and strengthen your immune system to fight illness: Rest more than usual and avoid exercise until symptoms are gone. Drink lots of clear fluids e. Stay away from cigarette smoke.

Do not take antibiotics unless specifically prescribed for you to cure the illness from which you currently suffer. Avoid drinking alcohol because it weakens your immune system and may interact with medications.

Avoid caffeine, which can increase congestion and dehydration. Eat a well-balanced diet, including fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Salt water nasal sprays e. NaSal or Ocean can ease nasal congestion and thin mucus. However, excessive use of medicated nose sprays, like Afrin, can cause dependence and may make congestion worse. Humidifiers and hot showers can help to moisten nasal passages and clear mucus.

People are indoors more often, allowing viruses to pass more easily from one person to another. And the cold, dry air may weaken resistance. Do you need antibiotics? Are you contagious? Michael Albert, M. How did I get it? Somebody coughed or sneezed near you, or you touched a contaminated surface, like a doorknob. More than viruses can cause colds. The most common is the rhinovirus. How I feel: Yucky. You probably have a runny nose, scratchy throat, low-grade fever, fatigue, chills and aches.

And you probably are sneezing and coughing. What should I do? Decongestants, cough drops and antihistamines can help with symptoms. Rest and liquids may speed your recovery. When can I go back to work? Most people are contagious for about a week, starting the day before they have symptoms.

How common is it? Of all illnesses, common colds are blamed for the most days off work or school and the most visits to health care providers. See a doctor if: Symptoms linger beyond a few days or get worse, or if new symptoms develop. Learn more about common colds. You got the flu from airborne droplets sneezed or coughed, or by touching contaminated surfaces. Flu viruses keep evolving, which is why flu shots, which are updated every year, are never fully effective.

How I feel: Terrible. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Kumar P, et al. Infectious diseases and tropical medicine. In: Kumar and Clark's Clinical Medicine. Philadelphia, Pa. LaRocque R, et al. Causes of infectious diarrhea and other foodborne illnesses in resource-rich settings. Ryan KJ, ed. Infectious diseases: Syndromes and etiologies.

In: Sherris Medical Microbiology. File TM, et al. Epidemiology, pathogenesis, and microbiology of community-acquired pneumonia in adults. Accessed May DeClerq E, et al.

Approved antiviral drugs over the past 50 years. Clinical Microbiology Reviews. Mousa HAL. Prevention and treatment of influenza, influenza-like illness and common cold by herbal, complementary, and natural therapies.

Caring for someone sick. Germs Infection: Bacterial or viral? Mayo Clinic Minute: What is the Asian longhorned tick? People who have flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:.

Most people who get flu will recover in a few days to less than two weeks, but some people will develop complications such as pneumonia as a result of flu, some of which can be life-threatening and result in death. Sinus and ear infections are examples of moderate complications from flu, while pneumonia is a serious flu complication that can result from either flu virus infection alone or from co-infection of flu virus and bacteria. Other possible serious complications triggered by flu can include inflammation of the heart myocarditis , brain encephalitis or muscle tissues myositis, rhabdomyolysis , and multi-organ failure for example, respiratory and kidney failure.

Flu also can make chronic medical problems worse. For example, people with asthma may experience asthma attacks while they have flu, and people with chronic heart disease may experience a worsening of this condition triggered by flu. Anyone can get sick with flu, even healthy people, and serious problems related to flu can happen to anyone at any age, but some people are at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications if they get sick.

This includes people 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease , pregnant people and children younger than 5 years, but especially those younger than 2 years old.

These lists are not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptom that is severe or concerning. To receive weekly email updates about Seasonal Flu, enter your email address:.