how can i tell if i have meningitis or the flu?

Question

im a freshman living in dorms, but i also have the vaccine. last night i got a very very sore throat and a pretty bad runny nose. my head also feels all stuffy, especially my left ear. i woke up this morning and i felt a little better (i usually do when im sick feel better in the morning) but i have a small headache. i dont have stiff neck, sensitivity to light, vomiting etc. i described all my symptoms, im just worried that my symptoms came so quick, and im a little paranoid, this is the first time ive been this sick at college. when should i head to the doctor? we only have emergency room on weekends, and being a pre med student i can understand doctors getting pissed when u go to the er with a cold

no fever although my girlfriend said sometimes my head feels cold and sometimes my head feels a lil warm. ( i told her to go away, if im dying i dont want her to aswell)

Answer 1

Dorm rooms are dirty places with lots of germs. I lived with 6 girls in college and when one person got sick, we would all get sick.

Do you have the chills? A fever? Thats the flu... Who knows if you have the flu or meningitis. You could also just have bad allergies. They are bad this year. You should probably go to health services to be on the safe side.

Health services will not get mad at you if go see them with only a cold. It's their job to help you. I went a few weeks ago and I had the flu and horrible allergies...

Answer 2

Neck stiffness and pain are the main symptoms of meningitis. If those develop, you should go see a doctor right away. If your campus has a health center, call and make an appointment; many times they are able to get you an appointment on the same day or the next. Campus health centers are there to make sure that students like you stay healthy. I hope this helps.

Answer 3

You would need a spinal tap to tell if you have meningitis. A nasal swab is done for diagnosis of influenza.