Is this your first year at university? Beware of rookie flu

university students from all over the world are returning to classrooms these days. Some are doing this for the first time. Others are starting a new career year. Many of them will soon remain at home due to a cold, which most affects children in their first year of life. So much so that he was baptized as rookie flu.

It should be noted that this is just a colloquial name. It doesn’t have to be the flu. In reality it may be almost any respiratory virussuch as rhinovirus or coronavirus. Thus, symptoms vary as they depend on the virus in question. But in general they are usually characterized headache, fever, runny nose, and in some cases, skin rash and neck stiffness.. These last two symptoms can occur when the virus becomes complicated and causes meningitis. Therefore, although in most cases beginner’s flu does not entail any danger, you should pay attention to the symptoms.

It should also be noted that there is no serious scientific evidence of the origin of newcomers’ flu. Is there really pattern Or do we just tend to feed this pattern into ourselves every time a student gets sick like everyone else does at the start of the fall season? It is not clear, but it is still interesting to know what hypotheses exist in this regard.

What Causes Newbie’s Flu?

It is logical that the first factor that can explain newcomers’ flu is season in which this happens. Classes both at the university and at other educational levels begin almost simultaneously with the fall. They coincide with the timing of seasonal viruses such as influenza or coronavirus. Therefore, many students often fall ill suddenly.

On the other hand, in the first days of university students’ training many people from different walks of life with whom they have not lived before. They may carry viruses that they have not previously been exposed to and therefore They are not vaccinated.

This is fine. This can also happen when entering a new office or even when starting a new love relationship. We expose ourselves foreign viruses and, if these people are not from our usual environment, our immune system may not have dealt with them yet.

Can this be prevented?

To prevent newcomers’ flu, we must act like any virus. It is important to isolate if we have symptoms, or at least wear a mask. If we are healthy, washing and disinfecting frequently shared hands is essential. Additionally, exercise and a good diet rich in fruits and vegetables will help our immune system fight off viruses it doesn’t yet know about.

On the other hand, we have already seen that the worst complication that can arise is meningitis. This is not the most common occurrence, but if it occurs, it should be detected as soon as possible. The first warning signs are a very severe headache, a stiff neck and a skin rash. Although not every skin rash happens. This is usually associated with meningitis when they do not go away when pressed with a glass.

Finally, the best prevention will always be vaccination. Therefore, if we are about to start studying at university or generally preparing to regularly visit a place where many people from different backgrounds gather, we can consult our doctor What are the best vaccines we can get?

This will not prevent newbie flu 100%, but it may reduce some complications.