Campus Health leaves flu cases undiagnosed

In a particularly severe flu season, many students are paranoid at the first sign of a sore throat.

But those who turn to Campus Health Services to confirm their fears are not actually tested for the flu — their treatment is prescribed based on symptoms alone, said Thevy Chai, infection control coordinator at Campus Health Services.

Any student who has a fever in addition to a sore throat or cough is given an informational pamphlet with recommendations about decongestants, antihistamine, cough medicine and staying hydrated.

“We make supportive recommendations,” Chai said. “Most of those cases don’t need antiviral medicine.”

She said Campus Health prescribes antiviral medicine like Tamiflu if the patient’s symptoms are severe and if the patient asks for antiviral medicine.

But if antiviral medicine is prescribed to someone who doesn’t have the flu, the virus could become resistant to the medicine and make the drugs less effective, said Melissa Miceli, a pharmacist who works at the Walgreens at 108 E. Franklin St.

“If people continue to take Tamiflu if they haven’t been exposed to the flu, it could become a problem later down the line,” she said. “It would be harder to treat, and we would have to come up with a different antiviral medicine.”

Chai said she didn’t know how many Tamiflu prescriptions Campus Health has given out this year, but the number is small, though it has given out more vaccines than normal.

Three percent of about 30 visitors to the clinic last week were diagnosed with flu-like symptoms. Chai said this was not out of the ordinary.

“We have not been overwhelmed with influenza-like symptoms,” Chai said. “But it’s widespread in North Carolina.”

A few years ago, Campus Health regularly used a $155 rapid flu test, but Chai said it wasn’t reliable so they discontinued use.

Austyn Holleman, a sophomore who went to Campus Health Wednesday, was prescribed Tamiflu for her flu-like symptoms.

“(The doctor) asked me about my symptoms, and basically the body aches and fever are what made him know it was the flu and not a cold,” she said.

She said she was confident in the diagnosis.

“The Tamiflu is like a miracle-worker,” she said. “I feel so much better.”

Chai said the focus during flu season should be prevention, adding that Campus Health always recommends a flu shot, which is usually covered by health insurance.

So far this flu season, Campus Health has administered 2,300 flu shots. Chai said that number is more than usual due to an increased demand.

Though flu season has passed its peak this year, Chai said students who have not yet gotten a flu shot should still do so as soon as possible.

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