Common Student Health Needs

It's important to use reliable sources when looking up health information. Here are some sources we suggest:

Anxiety Canada
Information on anxiety

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
General health information

Dietitians of Canada
Nutrition information

Immunize Canada
Vaccine information

Mayo Clinic
General health information

Medline Plus
General health information 

Sex & U
Information on sexual wellbeing

Up to Date (click "Patient Free")
General health information 

How to care for your cold

• Wash your hands frequently.
• Stay hydrated.
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
• Rest as much as possible.

When to Seek Medical Attention

• If your fever has lasted more than 5 days or has returned after it previously went away.
• If you have shortness of breath
• If you are making a wheezing noise while breathing 
• If you have a severe headache,  sore throat, or sinus pain

General Instructions

• Drink extra water and fluids 
• Use cool mist vaporizer or saline nasal spray to relieve congestion
• For sore throats in older children and adults, use ice chips, sore throat spray, or lozenges 
• Use honey to relieve cough (do not give honey to an infant less than 1 year of age)
• Stay home from work or school if you have a fever higher than 38.5^oC (101.3^oF)
• Wear a mask on campus for 10 days if positive for COVID-19 and 5-10 days for other respiratory symptoms
• Gargle with warm salt water to temporarily relieve sore throat pain
• Talk to a pharmacist about over-the-counter options for your symptoms
• If you have COVID-19, Paxlovid (an antiviral for COVID-19) is now available in the first 5 days of COVID illness, for those who are eligible. Click here to find out more . 

If you are experiencing vomiting and diarrhea

• Keep Hydrated
• Talk to a pharmacist about over the counter medications
• Eat bland foods such as bread, crackers, and Jell-O
• Follow the gastro diet (see below)
• Avoid triggers such as strong smells

When to seek medical attention

• You have a fever of 101^oF (38.3^oC) or higher
• You have signs of dehydration- thirst, dry skin, dizziness, dark urine or infrequent urination 
• Nausea and vomiting persist 

Gastro Diet 

Foods to avoid until you're feeling better:

• Spicy or fried foods
• Alcohol
• Caffeinated Beverages
• Avoid fibrous fruits and veggies (except bananas)
• Whole grain bread, cereal, or bran
• Milk or milk products
• Nuts, seeds, coconut, popcorns

Focus on liquids to avoid dehydration (Step 1 below), and then gradually introduce foods (Step 2 and then Step 3)

Step 1

• Jell-O Clear soups or bouillon
• Decaffeinated pop (add a little sugar to “de-fizz” it
• Diluted apple or cranberry juice (no orange juice) Gatorade or Kool Aid
• Water/ ice chips
• Popsicles ​
• Hard candy
• Plain Saltines
• Decaffeinated tea with honey/sweetener

Step 2

• Applesauce
• Bananas
• Mashed potatoes
• Plain pasta, rice– without butter, margarine or sauce
• Toast (white or light rye) with jelly (no jam, butter or margarine)
• Refined cereals, such as Rice Krispies, puffed wheat 

Step 3

• Broiled or boiled lean meat, white poultry, or fish
• Poached or boiled eggs
• Well-cooked vegetables and fruits without seeds or skins
• Sherbet or sorbet

A UTI is an infection that affects your urinary system. Both men and women can develop a UTI but women are at a higher risk. 

Signs and symptoms

• Consistent, strong feeling of having to pee
• Burning feeling while urinating
• Urinating often
• Cloudy-looking urine
• Urine that looks red, bright pink, or like cola 
• Strong-smelling urine
• Lower back pain, lower abdominal, or pelvic pain or discomfort

When to seek medical attention

Untreated UTIs can lead to more serious health problems. If you think you have a UTI, call Health Services at 705-748-1481 to make an appointment, or seek care at an alternate clinic.

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) 

• Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a form of vaginal inflammation. BV is formed due to an overgrowth of bacteria that occurs naturally in the vagina. 
• Symptoms of BV include
  • Thin, vaginal discharge that may be grey, white, or green
  • Foul-smelling, "fishy" vaginal odour
  • Vaginal itching
  • Burning during urination
• If you have any symptoms of BV, call the clinic to make an appointment. 

 

 

Yeast Infection (Vaginal) 

• A vaginal yeast infection is a fungal infection that can affect the vagina an vulva. 
• Symptoms of a yeast infection include:
  • Itching and irritation in the vagina and vulva. 
  • A burning feeling during sex or when urinating
  • Redness and swelling of the vulva
  • Vaginal pain and soreness
  • Thick, white vaginal discharge that may look like cottage cheese
• Treatment for yeast infection is available over the counter at the pharmacy; however, it is important to make an appointment if any of the following apply to you:
  • You've never had symptoms of a yeast infection before. 
  • You're not sure whether you have a yeast infection (many symptoms are similar to those of an STI)
  • You have other symptoms
  • You tried an over the counter treatment and your symptoms are still present. 
• To lower your risk of a yeast infection, try the following:
  • Wear cotton underwear that is not too tight
  • Do not douche
  • Do not use scented products in the vaginal area
  • Do not use hot tubs or take hot baths
  • Do not stay in wet clothes for longer than needed
  • Only use antibiotics that have been prescribed to you

 

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

• STIs are bacterial or viral infections that occur from sexual contact. They can be transmitted via oral, vaginal and anal sex. Follow this link to learn more about the different STIs. 
• Using condoms and/or dental dams is a good way to protect yourself from infection, as is ensuring that your vaccinations for Hepatitis and HPV are up-to-date. 
• If you are sexually active, get tested regularly. See STI Testing for how to get tested at Trent! 

Practicing Safe Sex

• Only have sex if and when you are ready
• Always have consent before and during sexual activity
• Talk to your partner about sexual boundaries before having sex
• Use contraceptives to prevent STIs and potential unplanned pregnancy 
• Use a dental dam or condom when performing oral sex to prevent the spread of STIs (such as herpes/ HSV)
• Talk to your doctor about being vaccinated against HPV by receiving the Gardasil immunization. Make an appointment at Health Services to get a prescription for Gardasil. 
• Get tested regularly. See STI Testing for how to get tested at Trent! 

Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

• For support, please reach out to the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Team at consent@trentu.ca or 705 748 1011 x7792

Contraceptives

• Using Condoms and Dental Dams
  • Use condoms and dental dams to prevent the spread of STIs
  • Use condoms to prevent unwanted pregnancy
  • Even if you use condoms 100% of the time you should still be tested for STIs at least once per year and between new partners
• There are many different types of contraceptives available to prevent pregnancy. Click here to find out more. If you want to find out more about your birth control options, book an appointment at Health Services. 

Emergency Contraception

• Emergency contraception pill is often referred to as "the morning after pill", "Plan B", or "Ella". These prevent pregnancy from happening. Emergency contraception does not cause an abortion or miscarriage.
• Emergency contraception pill is available at Health Services. Call us at 705 748 1481 to make an appointment. It is also available at pharmacies over the counter. 
• Emergency contraception pill is more effective the sooner you take it, but can be effective for up to 3 days (Plan B) or 5 days (Ella) after having unprotected sex. 

If you or someone you know is currently at risk of suicide, harming themselves, or harming someone else, please seek immediate help. 

Mental health

• Mental health involves a balance within all aspects of one's life including social, physical, economic, mental and spiritual.
• Everyone has mental health. Your level of positive and negative mental health can change day by day depending on how you feel.
• Just because you are experiencing poor mental health does not necessarily mean you have a mental illness. Likewise, just because you have positive mental health it does not mean you do not have a mental illness. 

Mental illness

• Mental illness is a broad term used to describe several disorders such as major depressive disorder (depression), generalized anxiety disorder, borderline personality disorder, and bipolar disorder. It is important to note that although everyone has mental health, not everyone has a mental illness. 
• Mental illness may cause difficulties in an individual's daily functioning (including work, school, personal relationships, self-esteem, and more). Symptoms vary depending on the individual and their illness.
• It is not known exactly why mental illnesses occur; however, it is believed they occur due to numerous physical, social and environmental factors. Mental illness is very common and widespread. In fact, one in five Canadians has a mental illness

Where to seek help

• Mental Health Crisis/Emergency: If you or someone you know is currently at risk of suicide, harming themselves, or harming someone else, click here to seek immediate help. 
• Counselling Services: Trent Counselling Services provides free, confidential, short-term mental health support to all registered Trent students. Click here to book an appointment with counselling. 
• Health Services: If you have a mental health concern and have not yet been seen at Health Services for mental health, click here to book a 10 minute appointment with one of our nurses about next steps, or call us at 705 748 1481. If you are already seeing one of our clinicians about your mental health, call us to book a follow-up appointment. 

Below is a table of recommended vaccines for all students. Recommendations are based on Ontario's routine immunization schedule. It is also recommended that you have easy access to your immunization records. If you don't have a copy of your immunizations records, contact your local public health department for help.