The real ‘spring fever’ is more than just fun in the sun

With finals just a few weeks away, most students can’t afford to get sick. The changing of seasons brings warmth, rain, flowers, and new reasons to stay home from class – like pink eye and the stomach flu. Pink eye, whose true name is conjunctivitis, is a serious condition that is going around campus. Typically, the eye becomes irritated by either bacteria or viruses which irritate the membrane that covers the white part of the eye. Conjunctivitis is highly contagious, and can be spread as easily as using the same keyboard a person with conjunctivitis was using. The first line of defense against conjunctivitis is to wash one’s hands frequently and avoid touching the eyes. Health Services urges anyone who has contracted conjunctivitis to make an appointment with them and get help, as treatment needs a prescription. Because of the shift in seasons, Health Services also reported that they are a lot of environmental allergies, these typically induce coughing, sneezing, itching, and stuffiness. It’s not uncommon to hear people complain about their hay fever this time of year. Seasonal shifts can also cause more serious conditions, such as bronchitis – an inflammation of the airways that connect the lungs to the trachea, or windpipe, or even tonsillitis. “We are seeing a lot of the itises,” said Health Services Registered Nurse, Edna Merrill. Another highly common thing plaguing Plymouth this spring is gastroenteritis, the stomach flu. A killer of classes because of its contagious nature, the stomach flu puts its victims down with stomach cramps, nausea vomiting, and diarrhea for about two days. KidsHealth.org advises those with gastroenteritis to get a lot of rest, and drink a lot of fluid to avoid dehydration. Health Services does see the silver lining of Spring, though. “We’re seeing a lot less snowboard and skiing accidents,” joked Merrill, “bones are doing better.”