Manchester College Health Services

The information provided is for educational/informational purposes only. The intention is not to provide medical advice or replace the services of a trained healthcare professional. Please take issues or medical concerns to your healthcare provider.

Cast Care

Canker Sores	Poison Ivy
Crutch Walking	Prostatitis
Diarrhea	Sore Throat
Conjunctivitis	Sunburn
Gastro-Intestinal Virus	Upper Respiratory Infection
Genital Herpes	Urinary Tract Infection
Incision Care	Warts
Meningococcal Disease
Canker Sores So what are they? Canker Sores are shallow painful red, sometimes appearing with a white coating sores in your mouth. These might appear on the inside of your lips, the insides of your checks, or under your tongue. Canker sores are different from fever blisters, which usually are on the outside of your lips or in the corners of your mouth. *Causes of canker sores* Anyone can get canker sores, but people in their teens and twenties get them more often. Canker sores may run in families, but they are not contagious. More than one cause is likely even for individual patients. Canker sores do not appear to be caused by viruses or bacteria, although an allergy to a type of bacterium commonly found in the mouth my trigger them in some people. The sores may caused by a faulty immune system that uses the body's defenses against disease to attack and destroy the normal cells of the mouth or tongue. *Treatment* If you have small sores you can treat them at home by taking ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophne (Tylenol) for pain. You may also apply a thin paste of Orabase or Zilactin-B. Another approach, to mix equal amounts of mild of magnesia and Benadryl allergy liquid. Swish a teaspoon in your mouth for about 1 minute and spit it out. Repeat this procedure every 4-6 hours. Finally you may also rinse your mouth with a mixture of one tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide in 8 ounces of water. A prevention method is to rise your mouth every day for thirty to sixty seconds in the area of the mouth where the canker sore is located. You can also use cotton ball, cotton Q-tip, or gauze to apply it directly to the canker sore, three to five times a day. If self-treatment doesn't help, seek help from your healthcare provider Several prescription medicines may help with canker sores. Prostatitis *So what is it?* Prostatitis is an inflammation of an infection of the prostate gland, ( the gland that surrounds the neck of the bladder and urethra). It is not contagious and affects male adolescents and adults. *Signs & Symptoms* Urgency to urinate even when the bladder seems empty A painful and/or burning sensation with urination Frequent urination; waking at night to urinate Difficulty starting urination an din emptying the bladder completely. Fever; chills Pain between the scrotum and anus Joint and muscle aches Blood in the urine (sometimes) or semen Low back pain Pain during examination *Causes of prostatitis* Infections- often bacterial that travel through the bloodstream, the lymph system or from the urethra, to the prostate gland. Recent urinary-tract infections Excess alcohol consumption *Treatment* Rest in bed until fever and pain subside Increased fluids- drink 8-10 glasses of water daily No alcohol, coffee, chocolate, foods with tomatoes, or spicy foods. (These irritate the urethra) When prescribed, take all of the medication Site in a tub with 6-8 inches of warm water for 15 minutes, 3 times a day Avoid constipation *Return to see the doctor/school nurse if* Increased pain develops Fever rises to 101 °F (38.3 C) or higher You do not feel better after 48 hours Cast Care Why do I need a cast? You have been given a cast to allow your broken bone or torn ligaments to heal. A cast can keep the injured area still so that your body can heal faster without risk of repeated injury. How long you will need to wear your cast depends on the type of injury you have. General Precautions Follow your physician's instructions Move your fingers and toes frequently to prevent swelling and joint stiffness Avoid bumping or knocking your cast against hard surfaces Do not use anything to scratch under your cast. Do not slide anything down inside your case. There is a chance that you could break the skin and cause an infection. Never put padding in your cast, such as cotton or tissues. It may fall down into your cast and decrease your circulation R I C E What is this? R.I.C.E. is an easy abbreviation which explains the treatment steps for an acute injury. Prompt treatment of acute injuries can decrease the pain and swelling and shorten the recovery time. Rest: stop the activity. Give the injured area time to recover. This will protect against injury taking place Ice: Ice should be applied to the injured area during the first 72 hours. heat should be applied to an acute injury. Heat will cause more swelling. Ice should be applied for 20-30 minutes. If ice is applied for less than 20 minutes the effectiveness of the ice will be decreased. If ice is applied for more than 30 minutes, it will begin to have the same effect as heat. Do not re-apply the ice for 1-2 hours. You can make an easy ice pack by filling a Ziploc plastic bag with ice an then apply it to the injured area. You my also fill a small paper cup with water and freeze it until it is solid. Then tear part of the cup away and rub the injured area with ice for 20-30 minutes as recommended by the doctor. Compression: When an injury occurs, bleeding and fluid causes swelling. an Elastic wrap bandage will help reduce this swelling by not allowing expansion to occur. When applying an elastic wrap, always wrap toward the heard. Loosen the wrap if finders or toes become cold and being to feel numb. Elevation: Injuries of the extremities should be elevated able the level of the heart to counteract the effects of gravity and the pooling of blood. Usually propping the extremity on 1-2 pillows will elevate it sufficiently. With any injury, if there is an y indication that there is a broken bone or a serious joint injury, please return to Health Services as instructed by the nurse. Conjunctivitis *What is it?* Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is a very common infection of the conjunctive, which is the lining of the eye and the eyelids. It is highly contagious. Signs & Symptoms Redness of the eye and eyelids Swelling and itching of the eye A yellow or green colored discharge of the eye(s) which is worst in the morning Crusting of the eyelids in the morning Causes Infection due to a virus or bacteria May be triggered by allergies, irritants, improper care and cleaning of contact lenses Treatment Apply warm moist compresses for 5 minutes, 3-4 times a day Cleans the lid margins an dashes of discharge If antibiotic drops or ointment have been prescribed, us them until 48 hours after the symptoms subside Cool compresses applied to the eyes often helps relive the itching and discomfort Prevent spreading to other eye or other people by: Washing your hands well after applying medication or touching the eyes Do not share wash cloths or towels Discard eye make-up used prior to treatment Do not use eye make-up during treatment Change your pillowcase after starting medication *Return to see the doctor if:* Increase redness, pain, or swelling of the eye develops Fever rises to 101ºF (38.3 C) or higher Vision becomes worse Symptoms not improved after 48 hours Shingles What is it? Shingles is also called herpes zoster, which belongs to a larger herpes family of viruses. Shingles is most common in people over 60 years old, but it can occur in young people as well. After yo7u recover from chickenpox, the chickenpox virus is not destroyed by goes into the roots of your nerve cells (near the spinal cord) an becomes dormant. Later, when the chickpox virus is reactivated, the symptoms are called shingles. What causes the reactivation of the virus is not precisely known, however it can be contributed to many things. A weakened immune system seems to allow reactivation of the virus. This may occur with immune-suppressing medication, with another illness, or after major surgery. It is also seen as a complication of cancer or AIDS. Advancing age, chronic use of cortisone-type drugs, and the stress of major surgery may trigger shingles. The virus may also become active again after trauma to the skin from injury or sunburn. Emotional stress seems to be a common trigger as well. *What are its symptoms?* The first sign of shingle is often burning, sharp pain, tingling, or numbness in or under your skin on one side of your body or face. The most common site is the back or upper abdomen. You may have sever itching or aching rather than pain. You may also feel tired and ill with fever, chill, headache, and upset stomach. After several days, you will notice a rash of small clear, fluid-filled blisters on reddened skin. Within 3 days after they appear, the blisters will turn yellow, then dry an crust over. Over the next 2 weeks the crusts will drop off, sometimes leaving small pitted scars. because they tend do follow nerve paths, the blisters are usually found in a line, often extending from the back or flank around to the abdomen, just on one side. Shingles usually does not cross the mid-line of the body. The rash also may appear on one side of your face. Some people have painful eye inflammations and infections. Is Shingles contagious? A person with shingles can transmit chickenpox to a person who has never had the virus. there are virus particles in the blister fluid. Shingles is much less contagious than chickenpox because chickenpox can be spread through the air, whereas spread of shingles occurs only with direct contact or indirect contact (for example, a washcloth) with the blister fluid. If you have shingles, avoid contact with infants, children, pregnant women, and adults who have never had chickenpox, until your blisters are completely dry. What is the treatment? The shingles virus has to run its natural course, but you can get relief by applying cool compresses and taking acetaminophen or other mild pain relievers. *What can be done to prevent shingles?* A vaccine to prevent chickenpox is now available. you also can protect your immune system and lessen your chances of getting shingles by keeping your stress under control. Crutch Walking *Going down the Stairs* Start at the edge of the step, keeping your hips beneath you. Slowly bring your crutches and your bad limb down the next step “...down with the bad.” The bad limb goes down first! He sure and bend at the hips and knee to prevent leaning too far forward. Leaning too far forward can cause you to fall. Check your balance before you continue. You should have someone with you. When going down stairs, if there is a handrail on the step, you may use it to help you go down the steps. Just hold both crutches under your other arm. *Crutch Safety Tips* Make sure all pads, grips, screws and hardware are tight and in place. Clean the bottom or your crutches They should be free of dirt and stones. Have someone with you when you are first learning to use your crutches. Avoid smoothly waxed floors and small loose rigs, telephone, electrical, and computer cables on the floor because They can cause you to slip and fall. Soar Throat *What Causes A Sore Throat?* A sore throat can have many causes. Infections cause the majority of sore throats, and these are the sore throats that are contagious (can be passed from one person to another). Infections are caused by either viruses (such as the ‘flu’, the ‘common cold’ or mononucleosis) or bacteria (such as ‘strep’, mycoplasma or hemophilus). The most important difference between viruses and bacteria is that bacteria respond well to antibiotic treatment, but viruses do not. VIRUSES: Most viral sore throats accompany the ‘flu’ or a ‘cold’. When a stufl~-runny nose, sneezing, and generalized aches and pains accompany the sore throat, it is probably caused by one of the hundreds of known viruses. These are highly contagious. The body cures itself of a viral infection by building antibodies that destroy the virus, a process that takes about a week. Sore throats may accompany other viral infections such as chicken pox. Canker sores and fever blisters in the throat also can be very painful. Strep Throat ‘Strep throat’ is an infection caused by a particular strain of streptococcus bacteria. Your health care provider will recommend a throat culture if your sore throat is not associated with cold symptoms or if it is associated with a fever, swollen glands (lymph nodes in the front of your neck), or white patches on the back of your throat This culture is sent to the laboratory and it takes 2-3 days to obtain the result. A throat culture will test positive if you have strep. You wilt be notified by a nurse ONLY if your throat culture test is positive. Strep throat is generally treated with penicillin or another antibiotic. When an antibiotic is prescribed, it should be taken - as the physician directs - for the full course (usually 10 days). Otherwise the infection will probably be suppressed rather than eliminated and it can return. A strep infection can cause damage to the heart valves (rheumatic fever) and kidneys (nephritis). When You Should Seek Medical Care? If you have: been in contact with someone with strep throat, it is reasonable to have a throat culture done. severe and prolonged sore throat lasting longer than a week that is not associated with an allergy or irritation. Difficulty breathing. Difficulty swallowing liquids. Difficulty opening your mouth. Joint pains Earache Rash. Fever over 101ºF. Blood in saliva or phlegm Frequently recurring sore throat Lump in the neck Hoarseness lasting over two weeks. Diarrhea Sunburn Genital Herpes Upper Respiratory Infection Incision Care Your doctor has stitched your incision to speed healing You can help your incision heal faster by taking good care of it. *Bandage Care* Your bandage should be removed the day after surgery. Your doctor may ask you to replace your bandage each day. Most wounds don’t require a bandage after a few days, but you may decide to wear a bandage to protect the incision. *Watching for Infection* The edges of a healing incision may be slightly red. Redness is normal, but call your doctor if the redness is increasing or if it spreads more than half an inch from the wound. Call your doctor if you see pus in the incision or if the incision is more than mildly tender or painful. Your doctor may ask you to put an antibiotic cream on the incision. You can buy some antibiotic creams without a prescription. Apply the cream twice a day. *Bleeding* If your bandage becomes bloody, replace it with dry gauze or another bandage. Applying pressure directly to the incision for a few minutes stops most bleeding. If the wound keeps bleeding after you apply pressure, call your doctor. *Bathing* Keep your incision clean and dry for the first 24 hours. Avoid showering or bathing the first day. Try taking a sponge bath instead. You may wash with soap and water by the second day. Take a shower instead of a bath if you have stitches or skin tape on your incision. Gently towel dry the incision after washing. *Stitch Removal* Your doctor will remove stitches that don’t absorb into the tissues. Deep stitches are absorbed by your body gradually and don’t need to be removed. Most stitches are removed in three days to three weeks after surgery, depending on where they’re located and how quickly you heal. Your doctor may apply skin tape after the stitches are removed. Skin tape provides additional wound support. The tape can be removed in three to seven days. Healing skin my need months to regain most of its strength. *Tension on your Scar* Limiting movement of your incision improves healing. Avoid activities that could cause your scar to pull apart. Your doctor may ask you to avoid lifting, straining, exercise or sports for the first month after surgery. Contact your doctor if the incision pulls apart. *Sun Exposure* A healing scar will darken and become more noticeable if it get sunburned. Limit your sun exposure for the first six months after surgery. When you go outdoors during the day, cover your scar with tape or sunscreen. Urinary Tract Infection Urinary tract infections (UTI) in women: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common. Women are especially prone to UTIs. One woman in five develops a UTI during her lifetime. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: Frequent urge to urinate even when the bladder seems empty. A painful and/or burning sensation with urination. Blood in the urine ( sometimes). CAUSES: Most commonly E. coli, a bacteria That normally lives in the colon. Women are more susceptible because the urethra, the tube from the bladder to the outside is shorter in women, and bacteria can easily travel from the skin or the vagina or rectum to the bladder. TREATMENT: A urine sample is necessary to detect the presence of bacteria, and to determine the best treatment. Drink plenty of fluids, about one glass every hour. Cranberry juice may help to make the urine and bladder less hospitable to bacteria. Avoid alcohol, caffeine products and spicy foods which can irritate the urinary tract. Medication(s): If an antibiotic is prescribed, take all of the medication. (An additional medication may be prescribed if you have pain with urination.) If a urine culture is ordered by the doctor, the results will be available in about 48 hours. RETURN TO SEE THE DOCTOR IF: Increased pain develops, especially in your back. Fever rises to 101ºF (38.3 C) or higher. Vomiting begins. You do not feel better after 48 hours. PREVENTION: Drink plenty of water, at least 8-10 glasses per day. Urinate when you feel the need; don’t resist the urge to urinate. Women should wipe themselves from front to back after using the toilet. Take showers instead of tub baths. Do not use bubble bats, feminine hygiene sprays and scented douches, which may irritate the urethra. Avoid tight pants. Wear cotton underwear so perspiration can be absorbed. Do not smoke. Smoking is the major known cause of bladder cancer. Poison Ivy Warts What is a wart? Warts are NOT caused by touching a toad or frog! Warts are skin growths caused by a virus. The human papillomavis (l-IPV) virus stimulates the rapid growth of cells on the outer layer of your skin. There are more than 50 types of warts and they can be present on any part of your body, but most often seen on the hands and feet. Warts may appear as small, fleshy, grainy bumps that may be skin-colored, white, pink, or tan. *Common Warts* These appear near the fingernails but can also appear on any part of the hand. Young adults and children are most often affected. *Planter Warts* These warts appear on the feet and may have tiny black dots in them. These black dots are small, clotted blood vessels. While common warts are usually painless, plantar warts can be painful because they press inward when you stand on your feet. Common warts and plantar waits are not usually a serious health concern. Warts may disappear in a few weeks or last a long time. If they become bothersome, you may need to have treatment to have them removed. *Causes:* Warts can be acquired through direct contact with an infected person or contact with, the virus on a surface, such as a shower floor. Usually warts spread through breaks in your skin. Not everyone who comes in contact with HPV will develop watts. Each person's immune system responds to warts, differently. Warts may develop from 3 months to years after direct contact with HPV. *Treatment:* Warts don’t necessarily require medical treatment. Up to two-thirds of them disappear on their own in adults or after use of an over-the-counter medication for removal of warts. Do not use OTC treatments for warts on the face or genitals. *When to see your health care provider:* If over-the counter treatments fail or warts spread If warts are or the face, genitals, or on your feet. Your physician may suggest one of several treatments to rid you or warts: FREEZING (cryotherapy) - Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze await. The dead tissue sloughs off when it thaws. It may take several treatments to rid you of the wart(s). MINOR SURGERY: Your physician may use an electric needle (electrodesiccation and curettage) to cut away the wait. INJECTION: Your doctor my inject medications into the wart to kill the virus. *How to reduce the risk of spreading or contracting warts* Avoid brushing, clipping, combing, or shaving over areas of your skin, where there are waits. Don’t walk barefoot in public areas, such as pools and locker rooms. Wear shoes or sandals in public places to avoid coming into contact with the virus. Avoid using the same file or nail clipper on warts as you use on healthy nails. Don’t pick at warts. Picking may spread the virus. You may want to place an adhesive bandage over the wait to discourage picking. Gastro-Intestinal Virus There are many viruses that can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. These viruses are common in the cold weather months. Health Services sees patients every year with these symptoms. These viruses affect the gastrointestinal system. The good news is that these viral symptoms are usually over within 12-24 hours. *PREVENTION* Avoid sharing air space and eating or drinking utensils with others. Frequent and good hand-washing technique is always a good preventive measure. Avoid visiting ill people, and remember to disinfect the telephone, computer keyboards, doorknobs that others may have touched. Use a hand-sanitizing product when you can’t use soap and water. *What is the treatment for nausea and vomiting?* Take nothing by mouth: When nausea and vomiting begins, stop drinking all oral liquids. Rest your stomach for approximately two (2) hours after the last time you vomit. After 2 hours, you may begin to take sips of a sport-type drink (i.e. Gatorade) or water. We recommend that you only take 1-2 Tablespoons every 15 minutes for the first hour. If no vomiting occurs, you may increase the amount of clear liquids you drink. You should keep to a clear liquid diet for the first 12 hours. What is a clear liquid diet? A clear liquid diet consists of anything that you can “see through." This includes, sodas, apple juice, cranberry juice, Jello, and clear-base broth from non-greasy soups, bouillon, popsicles, water, tea, Kool-aid, and sport-type drinks. After 12 hours you may advance to a bland diet, adding dry toast, banana, applesauce, etc. Avoid fried or greasy foods, gas-forming vegetables and fruits, and if you have had any diarrhea, avoid dairy products for 48 hours after your last liquid stool. What is the treatment for diarrhea? Gastrointestinal viruses often cause diarrhea, or liquid stools. UI-IS health professionals recommend that you wait a few hours to treat diarrhea. Diarrhea becomes a concern when you cannot drink enough liquid to replace the fluid loss of diarrhea. Once you have the nausea and vomiting under control, usually the diarrhea slows down also. When to seek treatment? You should come to the Health Services when you: • are still vomiting after trying the previous listed suggestions • are having massive amounts of diarrhea • have severe abdominal pain • “faint” or “black out” when you stand and walk. Meningococcal Disease *What is meningitis?* Meningitis is an inflammation of the linings of the brain and spinal cord caused by either viruses or bacteria. Viral meningitis is more common than bacterial meningitis and usually occurs in late spring and summer. Most cases of viral meningitis run a short, uneventful course. Bacterial meningitis occurs rarely and sporadically throughout the year, although outbreaks tend to occur in late winter and spring. Bacterial meningitis in college-aged students is most likely caused by Neisseria meningitidis or Streptococcus pneumoniae. Meningococcal meningitis requires early diagnosis and treatment. It can result in hearing toss, kidney failure, amputation of limbs, permanent brain injury or death within 24-48 hours. Death occurs in approximately 10 percentof cases, or about 300 Americans annually. With early diagnosis and treatment, the likelihood of full recovery is increased. *What are signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease?* Common early symptoms include fever, severe sudden headache accompanied by mental changes (malaise, lethargy), nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, and sensitivity to light. A rash may begin as a flat, red eruption, mainly on arms and legs. It may then evolve into a rash of small dots that do not change with pressure (petechiae). *How is meningococcal disease transmitted?* The disease is transmitted through the air via droplets of respiratory secretions and direct contact with persons infected with the disease. *Why are college students at risk?* Since the early l990's, there has been an increase in meningitis outbreaks in the U.S. The number of cases has nearly doubled among young adults (l5-24years of age) from 1991-1996. Bacterial meningitis is believed to be on the rise among college students. Data suggests certain social behaviors such as exposure to passive and active smoking, bar patronage and excessive alcohol consumption may increase the student's risk for contracting the disease. Roommates and friends who have had intimate contact with the oral secretions of a person diagnosed with meningococcal disease are at risk. Examples of such contact include kissing, sharing eating utensils and being exposed to droplet contamination from the nose or throat. Geographic diversity can create a bacterial stew, on campus. *How can one reduce the risk of contracting meningococcal disease?* Consider vaccination with Menomune meningococcal vaccine. Menomune is generally safe and effective. However, some reactions (soreness and redness at the injection site, mild fever) can happen with all vaccines. As with any vaccine, vaccination may not protect 100 percent of all susceptible individuals. Maximize your body’s own immune system response. A lifestyle that includes a balanced diet, adequate sleep, appropriate exercise, and the avoidance of excessive stress is very important. Avoid exposure to and infections of the upper respiratory tract, and inhalation of cigarette smoke.

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