Freshers' flu

Causes

The most likely cause is the convergence of large numbers of people arriving from all over the world. The poor diet and heavy consumption of alcohol during freshers' week is also reported as a cause for many of the illnesses contracted during this time. "Stress, which may be induced by tiredness, combined with a poor diet, late nights and too much alcohol, can weaken the immune system and be a recipe for ill health. All this can make students and staff working with the students more susceptible to infections within their first weeks of term." In addition to this, nearly all university academic years in the UK commence around the end of September or beginning of October, which "marks the start of the annual flu season". The increased susceptibility to illness from late nights, heavy alcohol consumption and stress peaks 2–4 weeks after arrival at university and happens to coincide with the seasonal surge in the outbreaks of colds and flu in the Northern Hemisphere.

Other effects

As well as the usual viral effects, freshers' flu can also have some psychological effects. These effects arise where the stress of leaving home and other consequences of being independent, not to mention various levels of homesickness and the attempts at making new friends, can further weaken the immune system, increasing susceptibility to illness.

References

References

1. Dillner, Luisa. (11 September 2012). "Surviving freshers' flu: student health questions answered". The Guardian.
2. "BBC - North Yorkshire Student Diaries - Suzanne's diary: Freshers' Flu".
3. (26 June 2008). "How to avoid the dreaded freshers flu". Independent Online.
4. (10 September 2007). "How to blow the nose on freshers' flu". BUPA Wellness.
5. (6 October 2010). "October - flu season and HPA flu surveillance begins". Public Health England.
6. Corporation, British Broadcasting. "BBC - h2g2 - Freshers' Flu".