Flu Fighters

What do I do if I get the flu?
If you believe you may have the flu, make an appointment to see a Redfern health care provider by logging into MyHealth-e or calling 864-656-1541.

• If you are sick, you should stay home and limit contact with other people, except to seek medical care.  Remain isolated for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines.  Some people with influenza will not have fever; therefore, absence of fever does not mean absence of infection.  Isolate yourself during this time period even if you are taking antiviral drugs for treatment of the flu.
• If you leave the house to seek medical care, wear a facemask, if available and tolerable. Always cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue.  In general, you should avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness.
• If you are sick and sharing common spaces with other household members, wear a facemask if available to help prevent spreading the virus to others.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.

For additional information and advice about the flu, please see Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

How do I get care after hours?
If you have flu-like symptoms such as a fever, cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue, call the appointment line at 864-656-1541 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or log into MyHealth-e.  For the after-hours nurse line, call 864-656-2233 and select option 2. 

What should I do if Clemson Univesity experiences a surge in the number of flu cases?
During a surge in the number of flu cases Redfern Health Center will do everything possible to meet the health care needs of the students.  However, due to high demand for services it may be difficult to secure a timely appointment with a health care provider and wait times may increase.  If your symptoms are not severe and there are no other risk factors, you should isolate yourself from others, rest, drink plenty of fluids, and monitor your condition until 24 hours after the fever is gone.

What are the emergency warning signs?
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• sudden dizziness
• confusion
• severe or persistent vomiting
• flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

If you are concerned about your illness or develop severe symptoms, such as increased fever, shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, or rapid breathing, seek care immediately at Redfern or from another health care provider.

What are the treatments for the flu?
It is expected that most people will recover without needing medical care.

If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, contact Redfern or another health care provider to get medical care.

How do I prevent getting the flu?
The CDC recommends:

• Avoid close contact.  Avoid close contact with people who are sick.  If you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
• Stay home when you are sick.  If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick.  You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
• Cover your mouth and nose.  Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.  It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
• Clean your hands.  Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.  Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

Practice other good health habits:

• Get plenty of sleep
• Be physically active
• Manage your stress
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Eat nutritious food
• Get your flu vaccine

CDC recommends a yearly seasonal flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against seasonal flu. While there are many different flu viruses, the seasonal flu vaccine protects against the three main seasonal flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. The seasonal flu vaccine can protect you from getting sick from these three viruses, or it can make your illness milder if you get a related flu virus. The seasonal flu vaccine will provide protection against the H1N1 influenza as well.

What are some tips to stay healthy during the flu season?
Check out the suggestions for flu prevention and treatment by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If you don't have tissues, cough into your sleeves.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making them sick.

Redfern Health Center offers the seasonal flu vaccine, Monday-Friday from 8:30 - 11:30 and from 1:30 - 4:30. No appointment is necessary.

Cost and Coverage

The shots cost $18 for fee-paid and $23 for non fee-paid students, payable at the time of service. Unpaid balances will be added to the student's account at Redfern Health Center. If you are enrolled in the Clemson University Student Health Insurance the cost of the flu shot is covered 100% by the Preventive Benefits in your plan. 

Cash, check, debit, credit and Tiger stripe are accepted.

Look for scheduled flu clinics sent to you by emails from Inside Clemson.

Flu Related Resources

More information about the seasonal flu is available at the CDC.  This website contains many useful links such as how the flu spreads, how to tell if you have a cold or the flu, and information on the flu symptoms. The CDC also presents a comprehensive question and answer section on the flu, the effectiveness of the vaccine, treatment of the flu, and much more.

For further tips about flu prevention and treatment, check out the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.