'Tis the season

The holiday season brings joy and anticipation to people all across the country, but for many it also brings high fevers, headaches, body pains and extreme fatigue. \nAs the flu season begins, U.S. health officials fear the country could see a more severe flu season than normal. \nA primary reason for this concern lies in the fact that four fatalities have already been reported in Colorado where children of 21 months, two, eight and 15 have died from the virus.\n"The flu can lead to pneumonia and that is a serious condition," said Anne Reese, director of Health and Wellness at the IU Health Center. "The flu doesn't actually cause the deaths, but it can lead to serious secondary problems."\nEach year about 114,000 Americans are hospitalized with the flu, and about 36,000 of them die from secondary problems, Reese said. Most fatalities come from elderly patients over 65 or infants under the age of two. Last year, 1,206 people over the age of 65 died from the flu in Indiana alone.\nThe particular strain of flu doctors have been identifying in patients this year is another cause for worry. The H3N2 Fujian strain originated in China and was responsible for severe outbreaks in the United States in the 1990's.\nUnlike the common cold, the flu can affect a person severely for three to four days and then linger for up to a week after that. Health officials are urging residents to protect themselves by getting a flu vaccine. \n"We encourage people to get shots in October or November and even into December and January," Reese said. "It's certainly not too late."\nIU students can walk in or make an appointment to get their vaccine between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Health Center. Students who paid a health fee can simply charge the $10 directly to their bursar bill.\nCollege students are certainly at risk due to the high amounts of exposure to other people. Sneezes and coughs are enough to transfer the airborne virus, which can also be spread by contaminated objects such as door handles in common spaces.\n"I got the flu and it caused nothing but problems," freshman Pat Cape said. "I've been really tired and groggy all week, and I just never feel like I am getting over it."\nSome good precautions to help steer clear of the virus are hand washing, keeping your hands away from your nose, eyes and mouth, and simply staying healthy, Reese said. But getting a flu shot is by far the most effective way of making it through the entire flu season symptom-free, she added. Reese urged students to remember to try and get sleep and to keep their stress levels down as finals approach so they can stay healthy. \n"I am starting to notice a lot of people missing in my classes and getting sick on my floor," freshman Dave Tendering said. "My work load is going up and I am getting less sleep because of all the work, so I am afraid that the flu could be in my near future."\nStudents are strongly encouraged to get flu vaccines and if they notice flu-like symptoms of high fever, aches, pains and high levels of fatigue, they should go to the Health Center. More information on influenza can be found on the health center's Web site at www.indiana.edu/~health. \n-- The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact staff writer Brian Janosch at bjanosch@indiana.edu.