Closely living with many other students and the dry air in dorms can make even the healthiest student susceptible to infections. College students also tend to share food and drinks, as well as use a common phone or computer, which are all ways of transmitting germs. Staying up late studying for exams and getting little sleep don't help either. The eyes and nose are moist and at the right temperature to provide the perfect breeding environment for germs. If you touch a surface and then touch your face, you're very likely bringing germs to these areas.
Most people are unsure if what they are feeling is a cold or a flu.
Most often it is a cold, Erwin assures, but colds are viral and do not respond to antibiotics. New medications are being tested for use against the flu, but they are not available yet. When they are introduced to the public, they will likely be used only for the elderly and young children, or for anyone with a chronic disease. Erwin points out these antibiotics will not be a cure for the illness, but will merely shorten its duration and symptoms. If you' re wondering if your symptoms are just a cold or the dreaded flu, Erwin offers these suggestions.