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Student Health Center > Self-Treatment

Self-Treatment as appropriate:

  • If you are experiencing: nasal congestion - increase fluid intake, humidify room, steamy showers, decongestant.
  • If you are experiencing: cough - increase fluid intake (avoid milk), humidify room, sleep with head elevated (try 2 or 3 pillows), steamy shower before bed, cough medications.
  • If you are experiencing: fever - rest, increase fluid intake, light diet, Tylenol or Ibuprofen per product instructions.
  • If you are experiencing: sore throat - frequent warm salt water gargles (1 tsp. in 1 cup warm water), increase fluid intake, adequate rest, humidify room, throat sprays/lozenges.
  • If you are experiencing: nausea/vomiting/diarrhea - after vomiting, take nothing by mouth for 2 hours, then begin with small amounts of clear liquids.  If tolerated for 6-8 hours begin bland/soft foods.  No alcohol.  When tolerated, increase fluid intake to avoid dehydration and get plenty of rest.  (For most cases of stomach flu, vomiting should subside after several hours, and diarrhea should improve over a period of one to two days).
  • If you are experiencing: headache - rest, relaxation, over-the-counter pain medications (Tylenol, Advil, decongestant if there is sinus pressure).

Things you might consider bringing with you or having on hand, particularly if you have a preferred brand, so you can self-treat symptoms quickly:

  • personal medications/prescriptions, Antiseptic, Antibiotic cream
  • allergy medications, skin, etc.
  • Band-Aids
  • vitamins
  • pain reliever (Tylenol, Advil, etc.)
  • cough drops, throat lozenges, chloraseptic, cough suppressant 
  • decongestant/antihistamine
  • oral thermometer
  • cough expectorant
  • Gatorade, 7-up, Pedialyte, soup broth/boullion cubes 
  • humidifier, cool mist; heating pad; dehumidifier; air purifier/ionizer.
  • contact lenses AND eyeglasses
  • skin cleaning agents/treatments; hydrogen peroxide, Betadine, over-the-counter antibiotic creams/ointments, Calamine Lotion, or hydro cortisone cream