Health Literacy for Refugee Communities

The common cold is a viral upper respiratory infection that is caused by over 200 different viruses and is spread through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs/sneezes. It typically lasts for about 7-10 days. It’s one of the most common illnesses in the world and can happen at any age.A cold is typically mild but it can still impact your sleep quality and concentration.

Symptoms include:

• Runny/stuffy nose
• Sore throat
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Headache
• Low-grade fever

Solution: Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms through rest, drinking lots of water, and taking over-the-counter medications. Drinking warm soups can also help with throat irritation. Antibiotics will not help because they don’t treat viral infections.

Also known as influenza, the flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus that attacks the nose, throat, and lungs. The flu virus has several strains that change annually, which is why seasonal outbreaks happen every year. The flu spreads easily, especially in very crowded places like at school or work.

Symptoms include:

• Sudden fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Body aches
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Reduced appetite

Solution: Most people can recover on their own. There are antivirals that can also be used to reduce the duration of illness if given within the first 48 hours of symptoms. These are prescriptions and must be given by a physician.  The flu can lead to severe complications or even death in some cases especially for elderly people, young children, and those with chronic medical conditions. The best way to prevent the flu is getting a yearly flu vaccine. There are many cheap/free health clinics in Clarkston which we’ve shared on the home page.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by viruses and there are 5 main types.

1. Hepatitis A: spread through contaminated food or water
2. Hepatitis B: spread through contact with infected bodily fluids
3. Hepatitis C: spread through contact with infected blood
4. Hepatitis D: only infects people who already have hepatitis B
5. Hepatitis E: spreads through contaminated water

Hepatitis can range from very mild and short-term to severe and life-threatening. Chronic hepatitis can lead to long-term liver damage and in some cases liver failure if left untreated.

Symptoms include:

• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Liver damage
• Cirrhosis
• Liver cancer (in severe cases)

Solution: The best way to fight disease is to prevent it all together through vaccines - currently there are Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccines given during infancy and the newborn period. If you have an active infection, you can take antiviral medication. Drinking clean water and avoiding sharing food and personal items with friends also reduces the risk of transmitting certain forms of Hepatitis.

Malaria is a disease that is caused by mosquitoes. It is spread when an infected female mosquito bites a person and injects the parasites into their blood. It remains a major cause for illness and even death in a lot of developing countries. It’s common in tropical regions and without treatment, malaria can become life-threatening.

Symptoms include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Sweating
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Fatigue
• Nausea and Vomiting

Solution: The malaria vaccine is designed to prevent the risk of malaria and control the spread.Unfortunately, the vaccine isn’t routinely given in the United States. In addition, using mosquito nets and insect repellent are early prevention methods.

Poliovirus is a highly infectious disease which enters the body through the mouth and increases in the throat. It can spread by touching people and things that have been infected. Many people have no symptoms or very mild symptoms, and a small percentage of people develop a worse version of the condition called Abortive Polio. This happen in about 5% of those infected.

Symptoms of Abortive Polio include:

• Muscle weakness
• Deformities
• Loss of mobility
• Fever
• Sore Throat
• Vomiting/Nausea

Solution: Again, prevention is key! The IPV vaccine is a 4 part vaccine given to children starting infancy. This prevents illness.

Strep Throat is a common bacterial infection that spreads through coughing, sneezing, or touching surfaces that have bacteria. It’s caused by Group A Streptococcus bacterium and is the most common in children but can really affect anyone. It spreads very quickly in crowded places like schools, public transportation, and work.

Symptoms Include:

• Fever
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Stomachache
• Pain when swallowing
• Reduced appetite

Solution: Strep throat is best treated with antibiotics that are prescribed by the doctor. Antibiotics reduce the period where you’re contagious and prevent other complications. Drinking warm liquids like soup or tea also help relieve pain in the throat.