Back to School Fever

As summer sun fades to fall fun, the winds shift and the weather slowly cools to signal the end of one season and the beginning of a new one. With this change comes the inevitable back-to-school rush, and the ever more inevitable coughs, sniffles, sneezes and fevers associated with it. For these reasons, it is crucial to prepare for the upcoming cold/flu season. In this blog post, we will discuss some prevention techniques and over the counter treatments for when you and your loved ones are feeling under the weather.  

While preventing colds and flu may seem impossible, simple measures such as washing your hands and covering coughs and sneezes go a long way in slowing the spread. Similarly, staying home when you’re running a fever (temperature greater than 100.4F) can prevent those around you from becoming ill. But what should be done when it’s too late for prevention? The simplest answer is rest and hydration; this will allow your body time to heal and fight off infection thus getting you one step closer to feeling better. Sometimes though, the symptoms associated with these illnesses become nearly unbearable and over the counter (OTC) medication becomes the next best solution before seeking further assistance from your primary care provider. The most commonly used medications include ibuprofen and acetaminophen for fever and pain relief. When it comes to these medications, the best recommendation is to alternate their use every 4 to 6 hours as needed and to not combine them with combination products, such as NyQuil, as these products already have those medications in them.  

For other symptoms such as cough, stuffy nose, and/or sore throat, we at Axtell are happy to answer any and all questions regarding appropriate OTC remedies to try. We offer many different solutions here at our pharmacy that can help with symptom relief while also carrying any medications prescribed by your providers.  

This post contributed by: Felicia Chavez and Charles Nino Borromeo, 4th year student pharmacists at TTUHSC