<p>I think this may be the long thread others are referring to but not sure</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/122801-mono-big-deal-no-big-deal.html?highlight=mono[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/122801-mono-big-deal-no-big-deal.html?highlight=mono</a></p>
<p>Zixxa, I once had a sore throat so bad I couldn’t swallow at all. Felt like a razor blade in my throat. Turned out to be herpes.</p>
<p>Just another thought, if strep and mono come back negative.</p>
<p>Herpes - yes this is a viral sore throat (not the STD kind) and can be very painful. Often confused with mono.</p>
<p>Not to defend student health centers - they are no substitute for “Mom” (or Dad!). The thing with sick kids - if they have mono or mono symptoms and the throat culture comes back negative there really is nothing to do except to keep from being dehydrated.
You can’t do a mono spot for a week and it is a horrible week waiting and hoping the sore throat is viral and will go away soon.</p>
<p>What I worry about most as a mom - is dehydration. I always ask - if they are peeing 3 times a day - I know this is gross. Also the urine should not be dark yellow. (gross too).</p>
<p>years ago before the meningitis vaccine - I would read articles about how kids in dorms got sick and laid there in their beds. The roommate would go to class and the kid would just get sicker and sicker - horrifying. </p>
<p>Zixxa - hang in there!</p>
<p>D FINALLY got through this week…2 mid-term exams later, >=5 lbs lighter… she’s planning to sleep the entire weekend. Whatever she had in the throat expanded to include an ear infection (she complains that first she couldn’t talk, now she can neither talk NOR hear!)…health center put her on amoxicillin yesterday, w/ sudafed and ibuprophen instructions. Her b-day is Monday—I hope she feels better to ring in her 19th year! This has been one of the hardest weeks of the freshman year for ME… knowing she felt so miserable, and was so stressed about her exams, really realizing that I’d be missing her birthday for the first time <em>sniff</em>, and the general increased missing her, knowing that I’ll see her in less than a month. (it seems like I’ve missed her the most right before I’m going to see her again!!!)</p>
<p>Amoxicillin usually causes a full-body rash-like reaction in people with mono, so if she’s doing OK on the medicine, she probably doesn’t have mono. When I had mono a couple of months ago, I also developed ear infections, and my doctor couldn’t put me on any of the “cillin” antibiotics because of the risk of a reaction (which was only an issue since I’m allergic to the other major class of antibiotics).</p>
<p>DS across country has had a bad flu for 2 weeks, presented with a sore throat, night sweats…eventually became a full blown cold with lovely cough. Coincidently, Mom (me) got the same bug, and swore I had strep. Unfortunately, it seems to be just one of the lovely symptoms associated with this hit-by-a-bus flu. It IS hard to be across the country when your child is sick. The funny thing this week has been that DS is calling me giving me the “what to expect next” about the virus! Nice boy!!! He’s on day 16, still coughing but feeling ok.</p>
<p>Curiously, both my sons got a stomach bug this winter. They are Very Different People.</p>
<p>S1, on Day 1: “Mom, I’m really sick. I’m throwing up and have diarrhea. It’s awful.” </p>
<p>S1 on Day 2: “Mom, I’m not any better. I think I should I go to the doctor. I need drugs.” </p>
<p>S1 on Day 3: “Gawd, I’m so weak. It’s awful. What should I do?” Me: “Are you still throwing up and having diarrhea?” “Oh no, that stopped yesterday.” “Oh. Then you’re fine.” </p>
<p>On the other hand: S2 on Day 10: “Oh, yeah, I was really sick last week for about three days, but I’m fine now.”</p>
<p>I’m just bumping this up–I’m sitting here at work absolutely miserable because my baby boy is away at school suffering through the dreaded tummy bug that’s been going around. WAAAHHHHH!! Somebody commiserate, please.</p>
<p>This year, one of the items purchased before moving into the dorm room was a pop up canister of disinfectant wipes. D’s idea. She and her roomie started using them last year and plan to do so this year. I suggested a swipe at the doorknob on a regular basis would be a very good habit to get into.</p>
<p>Also purchased a supply of Airborne. Okay, I don’t know if I absolutely believe in this stuff but I figure it can’t hurt and D does use it at the first sign of the sniffles.</p>
<p>The first month is just a hot bed of new germs and uber stress. Hope all are taking proper precautions!</p>
<p>^^ The disinfectant wipes can help as can not sharing drinks or other items. If others use her keyboard, she should wipe that as well. Doorknobs, Keyboards, light switches, toilet handles, shower handles, dorm fridge handles, etc. It can reduce the chances but that’s about all that can be done.</p>
<p>Studies have indicated that Airborne doesn’t work and neither do large doses of Vitamin C but some people still either believe in it or take the approach that it can’t hurt. I don’t. Airborne even lost a large lawsuit for false advertising and has been giving people refunds as part of the settlement.</p>
<p>I just used Zicam zinc for a cold i felt coming on and thus far, whilst it still threatens, I was able to complete my weekend plans and still am not sick, just a bit off, I might send some to my kids!</p>