- If a you are ill and miss lectures or tutorials you need to fill out a self certification form. This covers you for 5 days- you can get the form from reception or Sharon Swainston (college secretary). Anything more than 5 days illness you need to have medical certification and email Sharon Swainston. If it has had an impact on your academic work please ring welfare or get in touch with one of the senior tutors.
- If you or someone on your corridor is ill, make sure that they get food from the kitchen. If there are any problems with this please contact welfare.
- Things spread around college very quickly, so if you are ill then do your best to stop the spread.
- If you suspect that you are ill with something other than a cold or flu then ring NHS 111 for further advice. Read below to check symptoms for more serious illness.
NHS 111
• Easier to access local services when urgent. Use instead of NHS direct.
• When you don’t know where to go or how to treat yourself they will go through a list of questions and if appropriate book you an out-of-hours appointment or call an ambulance for you.
• For breaks, fractures etc you don’t always have to go to A & E, call 111 and they can direct you to somewhere where you can be seen quicker.
University Medical Centre (Green Lane, DH1 3JX) - 0191 386 5081
The surgery is open:
•During Term Time: Monday - Friday, 8.30 - 17.00
•During Vacation: Opening times are occasionally more restricted during vacation. Please telephone the surgery or check our website www.durhamstudenthealth.co.uk
The surgery is closed for staff training on Tuesday 12.00 - 13.00.
During term-time:
- a daily Open Surgery is offered, no appointment necessary, just turn-up at the Health Centre and wait to be seen.
These are available on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings from 9.00 to 11.00 and on Wednesday afternoon from 14.00 - 16.00.
- booked surgeries are provided at other times - please pre-book by telephone or in person
During vacation:
- consultations are by appointment only.
A doctor or nurse can be consulted in Open Surgery or by appointment.
In addition to services provided by the doctors, nurses can provide advice on:
•Minor health problems
•Travel medicine
•Sexual health including contraception and the supply of pills and condoms
•Vaccinations
•Cervical smears
Serious Illness
Meningitis and septicaemia
If you are presenting any of the following symptoms then ring NHS 111 for further advice or help.
•Fever/vomiting
•Severe headache
•Stiff neck
•Dislike of bright lights
•Very sleepy/vacant/difficult to wake
•Confused/delirious
•Rash
•Seizures
•Limb/joint/muscle pain
•Cold hands and feet/shivering
•Pale/mottled skin
•Breathing fast/breathless
Mumps
The symptoms of mumps usually develop 14-25 days after being infected with the mumps virus (the incubation period). The average incubation period is around 17 days.
Swelling of the parotid glands is the most common symptom of mumps. The parotid glands are a pair of glands that are responsible for producing saliva. They are located on either side of your face, just below your ears.
Both glands are usually affected by the swelling, although in a minority of cases, only one gland is affected.
The swelling causes additional symptoms, including:
•pain and tenderness in the swollen glands
•pain on swallowing and/or difficulty swallowing.
Other symptoms of the mumps include:
•headache
•joint pain
•nausea
•dry mouth
•mild abdominal pain
•fatigue
•loss of appetite
•a high temperature (fever) of 38ºC (100.4ºF), or above.
When to seek medical advice
Contact your GP if you suspect that you or your child have mumps. While the infection is not usually serious, mumps share symptoms with other, more serious types of infection, such as glandular fever and tonsillitis. It is always best to visit your GP so that they can confirm (or rule out) a diagnosis of mumps.
Treatment
There are currently no anti-viral medications that can be used to treat mumps. Treatment is focused on relieving symptoms until your body’s immune system manages to fight off the infection.
The self-care techniques listed below should help.
•Get plenty of bed rest until your symptoms have passed.
•Over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, can reduce symptoms of pain. Children who are 16 years old or under should not be given aspirin.
•Drink plenty of fluids, but avoid drinks that are known to stimulate saliva production, such as fruit juice, because excess saliva can cause pain. Water is usually the best fluid to drink.
•Applying a cold compress to your swollen glands should help to reduce the pain.
•Eat foods that do not require a lot of chewing, such as soup, mashed potatoes and scrambled eggs.
Preventing the spread of infection
In people with mumps, preventing the spread of infection is also important. The advice below explains the best way to do this.
•Stay away from school, college or work until five days after the onset of your symptoms.
•Wash your hands regularly, using soap and water.
•Always use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze. Throw the tissue in a bin immediately afterwards.
