Signs and Symptoms/Facts:

Influenza

Mood disorders/Substance abuse

Diabetes

Seizures

Influenza

The ‘flu is generally an illness with sudden onset of chills, fever, body aches, and upper respiratory infection symptoms. Untreated the ‘flu may last 2 weeks. People infected with the ‘flu are at risk of developing secondary infections, such as pneumonia, bronchitis and sinus infections. These complications prolong an already lengthy illness.

Warning signs:

• Sudden onset of chills fever and body aches
• Sore throat and/or cough
• Generalized body aches
  

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Mood disorders/Substance abuse

Often times the symptoms of anxiety and depression overlap. Inability to sleep or excessive sleeping (which can result in missing classes), difficulty concentrating and moodiness can be symptoms of both. The student may be tearful over little things.
Students who feel they suffer from anxiety may turn to drugs or alcohol because they feel that it will “calm them down”. This, however, may worsen the symptoms of depression, causing them to become more withdrawn.

Warning signs:

• Social withdrawal
• Tearfulness
• Suffering from insomnia

All mood disorders increase their occurrence during the holiday season.
People are sometimes afraid that asking a person if they are thinking of killing themselves will “put the idea in their head.” This is not true; however, every person who makes comments about hurting or killing themselves, should be taken seriously.

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Diabetes

A student whose blood sugar is out of control may have no symptoms until the sugar is either extremely high or low. If their blood sugar level is very low (hypoglycemic) they may become confused, combative, and may even progress to a seizure. Most people whose blood sugar level is high (hyperglycemic) have few symptoms. They may complain of blurred vision, urinary frequency and extreme thirst.

Warning signs:

• increased fatigue
• irritability
• confusion
• extreme hunger
• excessive thirst
• frequent urination
  

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Seizures

Seizures are common occurrences, and in most instances, medication will adequately control them. Grand mal seizures are the more commonly known type. They are the ones with obvious shaking. The patient may become incontinent, and fall into what is called a post-ictal state, where they are very sleepy. Petit mal seizures may be short blanking out spells, and may cause the person to drop items. The student may be confused when coming our of a petit mal seizure.
When a person is having a seizure, those around him/her should move objects away, so the person does not bang into them, being especially careful to remove glass objects that can break and cause lacerations. They should also cautiously attempt to control head movements, to prevent the head from banging into the ground or other objects. They should not attempt to put an object in their mouth.

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