Useful Health Tips for Students
Alcohol
Find out more about the pattern of your drinking and how it compares to your fellow students. Fill out this simple online questionnaire. For more information please click here to go to our Drugs & Alcohol health clinic page.
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the skin over the white part of your eye and the inner surfaces of your eyelids.
It can be caused by contact with irritants like chlorine or smoke, allergens like pollens, as well as viruses and bacteria, including those that are sexually transmitted.
Symptoms: One or both of your eyes may feel a bit sore, itchy, irritated or gritty, look inflamed, water or there may be a sticky discharge, which is worse in the morning. Your lids may be slightly swollen. Conjunctivitis is not painful. Most conjunctivitis will heal with self-care.
Self care:
To avoid re-infecting yourself or spreading the infection to others
* Wash your hands regularly and after touching your eyes.
* Avoid sharing towels, pillows, and flannels.
* Use clean face-cloths every time you bathe your infected eyes.
* Do not share make-up and you may need to discard your present stock, especially mascara.
* Remove contact lenses and wear glasses until you have been symptom free for 24hrs
* Discard contaminated disposable lenses, use a new set
* Use new solution to clean non-disposable lenses before using
For symptom relief
* Wipe contaminated and contagious sticky substances from your eyes with a clean face-cloth each time or cotton wool soaked in water
* Bathe your eyes gently in normal saline or warm water
* A cold flannel compress will soothe swelling and itching
* You could try Bleph-10 an over-the-counter treatment from the Pharmacist
Important:
Normally most conjunctivitis will improve with self-care within a few days and heal itself.
Make a routine nurse or doctor appointment:
* If you get worse or are concerned
* If you are not improving
Seek immediate medical attention for any of the following:
* pain in your eyes, or on movement
* abnormal sensitivity to light
* any change in vision, or blurring that can’t be blinked away
* increasing redness in your eyes
* pain, swelling or discomfort in tissues around the eye
Depression
Improve your mood!
Feeling down , anxious or depressed?
Uncertain about counselling or where to begin?
Waiting for a counselling appointment?
At the present, due to high demand for counselling, those with less urgent problems may wait for 4 weeks or more. We realise this can be very difficult and frustrating!
While you are waiting, we highly recommend you visit "Rid" www.otago.ac.nz/rid
"RID" is a web-based treatment and resource website which will give anyone struggling with lowered mood or anxiety, tools that may allow them to learn to better manage their symptoms.
Ear Wax Advice
The ear canal can become blocked with wax, skin, debris or foreign objects causing temporary hearing loss and/or infection.
In 30% of cases wax plugs will spontaneously resolve after about 5 days without treatment.
Syringing ear wax either by a health professional or using over the counter preparations is not recommended due to the risk of complications such as rupture of the tympanic membrane (ear drum) and otitis externa (infection in the ear canal).
Microsuction is a safe method of removing ear wax from the ear. This is cleaning of the ear canal using gentle suction and instruments under direct vision using a microscope. All equipment is steralised before use.
You can have this procedure done by specialised registered nurses at the local Ear Health Clinic.
Cost - Students (with or without CSC card) $30
Contact Details:
Ear Health Clinic
557 Hillside Road
Dunedin
Phone: 455 0801
Web: www.earhealth.co.nz
Eat right - dietician clinics
Student Dietetic Clinics now running. We are pleased to announce the availability of a free dietetic clinic provided by supervised, University of Otago postgraduate dietetic students on a Friday afternoon. Please contact reception to make an appointment or ask your health professional. These consultations offer a wide range of life-style advice ranging from tips on how to manage iron deficiency through optimum nutrition through to advice on negotiating the "Kiwi" diet for those coming to Otago from different parts of the world.
Flu information
Got a cold or flu but unsure whether you need to see the doctor or simply want to stay clear of those nasty bugs - for more information download
"The bugs are catching on" leaflet (pdf).
or
Managing in the home - info. on how to care for yourself & others with FLU (pdf).
Gardasil, HPV Vaccination programme
The free HPV vaccine (Gardasil) for women born on or after 1st January 1990 is now available from Student Health.
This involves 3 vaccines at 0, 2 and 6 months.
Appointments will be available middle to end of April, please check back to see confirmed dates closer to the time. For further information please contact Student Health on 479 8212 or visit www.yourbestshot.co.nz.
Norovirus
Norovirus is a highly infectious intestinal illness which is spread from person to person by direct contact. The virus is particularly hard-hitting on the elderly, the young and also people with chronic illness.
Following are some commonly asked questions which will help you better understand the virus and, more importantly, explain how to minimise its spread.
How is norovirus spread?
It is spread by contact with infected people, or things. This can include contact with unwashed hands, vomit, faeces, food, water and even ice. The virus can also be caught from contact with infected surfaces, such as benches, taps and floors.
Is there a treatment?
No, there is no specific treatment. It is crucial that those with the virus replace fluids to avoid dehydration.
How do I know if I have Norovirus?
The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramp and pain, headache and mild fever. An infected person usually recovers within 2 to 3 days. Long-term health effects are unlikely.
Should I go to class if I think I have Norovirus?
No. Please stay away from class and lectures until 48 hours after all symptoms have cleared. It is very easy to pass on the virus. Please do not put others at risk.
Should I come to Student Health?
No, not usually - for most people, symptoms will settle after a couple of days without any specific treatment apart from rest and drinking extra water. If you are already have a condition which may be destabilised by Norovirus infection such as compromised immunity or have significant concerns regarding your health status, especially after 2 days of symptoms, feel free to ring Student Health and discuss your concerns on 479 8212.
The single most effective way of stopping the spread is vigilant hand-washing. This requires soap, warm water and rubbing hands for at least 20 seconds, and then drying them for a further 20 seconds with a clean, dry towel. The second important prevention method is careful cleaning. Most household cleaners are ineffective, and will not completely kill the Norovirus. We recommend that a bleach solution be used to clean up any faecal matter and vomit on the surfaces of toilets, bench tops and taps. The solution is cheap and effective, just add 20mls (4 teaspoons) of bleach to one litre of water. Please use gloves and, if possible, disposable towels. Please wash your hands thoroughly when you have finished cleaning.
Personal Performance & Development Coaching
This new service is aimed at motivated students who wish to set themselves realistic goals. It can help you focus on getting the right/work/study balance. It can be fun and creative.
Read the Personal Performance Coaching Information Here.
Contact Student Health on 479 8212 to find out more or email Brian: brian.johnston@otago.ac.nz
Quit smoking
Giving up smoking is one of the best things that you can do for your health and your pocket.
Like all good things it takes some time and effort to quit smoking - but you can do it!
- Our Nurses can offer you non judgemental support and motivation to quit smoking.
- We offer 30 minute appointments to plan together with you what will work best, strategies to use and if appropriate, subsidised nocotine patches.
- You can have as many appointments as you feel you need.
- First 5 sessions are free then each 30 minute session will cost $6.50.
- Book via Student Health reception (ph 479 8212) and state that your appointment is for smoking cessation to ensure we give you the right amount of time.
Scabies
WHAT IS SCABIES?
Scabies is caused by tiny insects which burrow along in the skin, laying eggs as they go. Above the eggs small blisters form, surrounded by red patches
* these are very itchy.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO TREAT SCABIES?
SCABIES WILL NOT GO AWAY WITHOUT TREATMENT
* Scratching a lot can lead to serious skin infections.
* Untreated skin infections can lead to kidney and blood infections.
* People who have scabies for a long time can get permanent scarring of the skin.
WHO GETS IT?
* Anyone! Even the cleanest people get scabies.
* Washing in soap and water or swimming in the sea will not prevent or cure it.
HOW DO YOU CATCH IT?
* Scabies spreads easily to other people in the family, to boyfriends and girlfriends and to children’s friends.
* By close body contact e.g. holding hands, hugging, sleeping together.
* By sharing clothes and bedding.
* Scabies do not live in furniture or carpets.
HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE IT?
Scabies causes a very itchy rash which is worse at bedtime or when you are warm.
The rash is caused by the scabies laying eggs. Small blisters form surrounded by red patches.
You may notice the rash first:
* between fingers
* on the wrist
* inside elbows
* around the waist
* on the bottom
* on private parts
If someone in the family has scabies, others may have caught it without
noticing a rash or itch.
If you are not sure if you have scabies, talk to your Doctor or Practice Nurse.
HOW TO TREAT SCABIES
EVERYONE LIVING IN THE HOUSE SHOULD BE TREATED
AT THE SAME TIME EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT ITCHY.
* Children under 2 years and pregnant women should see their doctor first for advice about treatment as the treatment might be different.
* You will need a special cream or lotion which you can buy from the pharmacist.
* Ask the pharmacist how much you will need to treat all the people in your house.
It is best to treat just before going to bed.
* First have a warm bath or shower.
* Then cover the whole body with cream/lotion, from the jaw down to the soles of the feet, in between the fingers, under the nails and on the private parts.
* The cream/lotion must be left on overnight.
* If you wash your hands within this time it is important to put the cream/lotion back on your hands.
* Next morning have a bath or shower and wear clean clothes.
To stop scabies from spreading:
* All clothes worn against the skin in the last week must be washed in hot water
* If clothes cannot be washed, dryclean them or put them in a sealed plastic bag for 4 days to kill any scabies.
* Sheets, pillowcases, towels and face-cloths should be washed in hot water. It is not necessary to wash blankets, duvets or quilts. You can hang them out in the sun for a day.
* Your doctor or nurse may advise you to repeat the treatment.
* The itchiness will not go away as soon as the treatment is finished.
* This does not mean that it has not worked. It might take up to 4 weeks for the itch to go away.
* During this time you can use EURAX Cream (from the pharmacy) 2-3 times a day to help the itch.
* One treatment should be enough to cure scabies. If you still have the rash and itch after 4 weeks, see your Doctor. There are other treatments for scabies that only a Doctor can prescribe, OR the rash could be something else.
PREVENTION
* Children should not attend school or preschool until 24 hours after the first treatment.
* Don’t share a bed or clothes with someone who has untreated scabies.