infectious disease alert

Influenza.

Spread is by droplets. Incubation period 1-4 days. Infectivity 1 day before to 7 days after symptoms start. Immunity Those attacked by one strain are immune to that strain only. Convalescence may be slow.

Symptoms fever, headache, malaise, myalgia, prostration, nausea, vomitting, conjunctivitis/eye pain (even photophobia). Also depression.

Treatment bed rest +- aspirin...

- Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine. 5th ed. 2001. Longmore et al.

yup. unfortunately including the malaise, nausea, conjuctivitis, eye pain, photophobia, as well as depression... bed rest - self-prescribed but non-compliant (because of heavy workload, preoccupation with pbls, packing and classes.) self-prescribed medication: paracetamol (high doses), caffeine (6-7 cups/day), ascorbic acid (2 oranges + 60mg/day) brain function test (self-assesment) : 65% of normal. prognosis : recovery time may be protracted.