Cold

What to do if you think you have a cold:

  • Rest — get enough sleep.
  • Go to the health center pharmacy and consult with the pharmacist about over-the-counter medications that can relieve you of your symptoms. You DO NOT NEED antibiotics for the common cold.
  • If the Student Health Center is closed, students may call the Health Center at 559.278.2734 to speak with an After Hours Advice Nurse. The Advice nurse is available to provide basic healthcare advice.
  • Protect others from getting your cold. Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue or sleeve. Do not share food, cups and utensils with your family and friends.

Call 911 or go to the emergency room for any life-threatening condition you experience with
your cold such as:

  • Difficulty breathing, or shortness of breath
  • Chest pain or abdominal pain
  • Sudden dizziness
  • Confusion, or problems reasoning
  • Severe vomiting, or vomiting that does not go away
  • Having fever and a worse cough after flu-like symptoms seemed to improve
  • Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

For additional resources and reference about the common cold and runny nose, go to the CDC website.