Fresher flu or damp bedrooms

[Stillsummer]

DS has been with a cough since starting uni; usually He rarely got sick and never lasted more than a a few days. Doctor said he may have picked another cough/cold. Wondering if this is caused by the damps rooms? Any world if advice will be appreciated

Is he in a hall of residence? Was there any indication of damp when he moved in? What evidence is there regarding damp? More likely it’s a cough going round. Doesn’t sound like flu.

Halls; it us an old place; didn’t look that carefully to check if there was damp. Will ask DS

Freshers flu isn't actual flu, it's a nickname for a group of viruses student going to uni pick up due to lots of different people from all over the country being in one place.

Damp enough to cause a cough should be fairly obvious - smell, mould damp feeling walls etc.

A cough can take 3 weeks to clear up.

I work at a university. The first month or so after the students return in September really is rife with coughs and colds going round. Fresher's Flu really is a thing, although it's generally not actually the flu it's just coughs and colds.

Obviously you know your child way better than anyone else but for me I'd also be wondering if now he's at uni he's taken up smoking, vaping and/or cannabis.

Unless there's a particularly good reason to suspect the accommodation is damp it's not what I'd immediately be worried about.

Thank you all. He has been there for nearly 3 weeks; hopefully it will clear soon.

In our house we don’t call a cough flu. There’s a big difference. Sniffles and a cough at uni aren’t unusual - get a flu jab though!

Freshers sniffles doesn't have quite the same ring to it though does it.

😂😂

@Noddyslittleredcar Ha! No. But it’s something dc can get through pretty easily. Flu isn’t. I doubt a hall of residence has caused it by damp. More like meeting new people in confined spaces!

An old place doesn't automatically mean damp. Old buildings can be better ventilated (draughty!!). Yes check for visible damp.

Does he keep his window slightly open? If it were damp/mould that would help.
Is he allowed an air purifier + dehumidifier? If it were damp/mould that would also help.

A cough that doesn't clear should be checked by a GP, but also a run of colds is not unusual when thousands of strangers suddenly cluster! Also a post-COVID or flu cough can last for some time.

Does he feel ill?

Has he moved to somewhere with worse air quality?

A lot of misinformation from you @MeetMeOnTheCorner

With students it often is fresher's FLU, they just tend not to get very ill because they are young. They mix at the start of flu season.

Flu is almost invisible for many people and sometimes the only symptom is a cough. A cough could easily be caused by flu.

For some people, a flu passes with few symptoms then a cold wipes them out.

I wouldn’t have assumed damp. If it was damp enough to cause him to be unwell this early I think you would have noticed the smell as he moved in.

Its much more likely it’s the amount of young people he’s coming into contact with daily.