Dr. Cosette Scallon, staff physician at the Thielen Student Health Center, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have some tips on how to treat the flu. 

• Rest: Get plenty of sleep and rest. Don’t exercise.
• Hydrate:  Scallon said your body burns through fluids a lot faster with a fever, so drink plenty of water. 
• Over-the-counter medicine: Take the appropriate dosage of ibuprofen or acetaminophen medication, such as Tylenol, which helps reduce a fever.
• Anti-virals: Scallon said the Health Center limits the amount of anti-virals they prescribe so a resistance to medication doesn’t develop, but students and faculty who are immuno-compromised should visit the doctor for mediation.

Visit the doctor if:

• Your fever persists for more than a few days.
• You feel better and then your symptoms return. Your immune system is already weak, so you may have a new infection. 

Scallon said students can always call the Student Health Center for information at (515) 294-5801.