Freshers' Flu overview
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Freshers' Flu is the name commonly given to illnesses contracted as many as 90%[1] of new students during the first few weeks at a university, in some form, common symptoms include fever, sore throat, severe headache, coughing and general discomfort, [2] although it doesn't necessarily have to be flu, and is often simply a bad cold, but is so named simply due to alliteration. This is mostly a British term, and is rarely heard outside the UK.
Causes
The most likely cause is the convergence of large numbers of people arriving from all over the world, many of whom carry germs to which they are immune, but others have not had a chance to acquire the necessary immunity. The poor diet and heavy consumption of alcohol during freshers week is also reported as a cause for many of the illnesses contracted during this time. "Stress, which may be induced by tiredness, combined with a poor diet, late nights and too much alcohol, can weaken the immune system and be a recipe for ill health. All this can make students more susceptible to infections within their first weeks of term."[3]
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
As well as the usual viral effects, Freshers' Flu can also have some psychological effects. These effects arise where the stress of leaving home, and other consequences of being independent, not to mention various levels of homesickness and the attempts at making new friends, can further weaken the immune system, increasing susceptibility to illness.[4]