At different times of life you are going to experience different illnesses and health concerns. If you are a college student or have kids away at college you might be wondering, what are the most common reasons college students seek urgent medical care?
A study conducted by the University of Santa Cruz found that college kids most commonly go to Urgent Care for a wide range of symptoms and issues, including:
- Respiratory infections
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Emergency and non-emergency contraception
- Skin rashes
- Urinary tract infections (UTI)
- Fatigue
- Anxiety, depression, and related emotional troubles
- Injuries
- Eating disorders
(Source)
Allow us to explain in more detail the most common reasons we treat college students during an urgent medical situation.
6 Most Common Reasons College Students Go To Urgent Care
1. Respiratory Infections
Respiratory infections are one of the leading reasons college students go to Urgent Care. A respiratory infection can make you feel really sick, although not usually sick enough to require a trip to the emergency room. In some cases a respiratory infection can be treated at home, healing with proper rest, fluids and nutrition. If symptoms are unbearable or continue to persist, you should visit Urgent Medical Center.
Symptoms of respiratory infections include:
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty swallowing
- Sinus pain
- Earaches
- Temperature of 100 degrees F or higher
2. Contraception & STD Testing
College students are enjoying their first years of real freedom, out of the house and in their own living quarters. It’s no secret that college kids often experiment sexually; students often visit Urgent Care in search of contraceptive measures and STD tests.
College students in general are more likely to have an STD than the general population. According to the Florida State Health Department those between the ages of 15 and 24 make up 13% of Florida’s total population, but this same group accounts for 70% of all chlamydia infections. Other STDs, such as Gonorrhea, also occur in much higher rates within this age range, which outlines the age of the average college student.
3. Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea
College puts students under a great deal of change, including eating habits, exposures, and day-to-day stresses. At college it’s not so hard for illness to find you. Since nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are signs of many different illnesses, from food poisoning to a bad hangover, college students are often concerned about the cause of their illness. When these symptoms continue over a period of time they can lead to dehydration, in which case medical attention is important to prevent further sickness due to dehydration.
4. Fatigue
College students don’t always get enough sleep or practice the best eating habits, and while college is fun it can be stressful too. All of these factors can easily add up to fatigue. Constantly feeling tired might have to do with the regular day-to-day life of being a college student, but it might also have to do with something more serious. College students suffering from fatigue often visit Urgent Care to ensure an underlying condition, such as mononucleosis or anemia is not to blame. If there are no obvious causes for your newly onset fatigue, it’s always best to consult with a doctor.
5. Physical Injuries
College sports require students to push themselves to the limits, which is why we see many students with overuse injuries come to Urgent Care. Overuse injuries are usually slow to start, a faint pain that worsens each time you do the same activity. If you do notice this happening, it’s best to take a break and seek medical attention so that you do not risk a serious or chronic injury.
Sports, or simply roughhousing around the dorm, can cause unexpected injuries that require urgent medical attention.
Signs college students should visit Urgent Care for an injury include:
- Pain is so bad it debilitates a certain limb or body part
- Large cut or wound that continues to bleed
- Open wounds at risk for infection– all wounds can become dirty and infected, and require proper cleaning and care.
- Pain accompanied by fever
- Signs of infection, including swelling, redness and/or swollen pustules
6. The Meningococcal Vaccine
Before starting school, all college students should get the Meningococcal vaccine, especially if a student plans to live in the dorms. The meningococcal vaccine protects against four different strains of bacteria, all of which cause meningococcal disease. A disease that impacts the brain, blood, and spinal cord—parts of the body you surly don’t want to take any risks with. 1 in 10 people infected by this disease will die, and lasting problems such as brain damage or hearing loss are possible. In other words this vaccine is incredibly important, and should be one of the leading reasons college students come to Urgent Care.
At Urgent Medical Center we provide medical treatment and vaccines to college students, as well as patients of all ages.
